TITLE:  "Deception"  Ch. 2
       AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
       SUMMARY:  Murder on a nearby Army installation sends Harm and 
Mac into 
temporary partnership with CID agents.  A partnership that does not end 
when the 
case resolves.  Story will be posted in 3 multi-part chapters.
        CLASSIFICATION/RATING:   J/S/R/A    PG for language and mild 
violence.
         SPOILERS:  In any of our work, any JAG episode may be referred 
to.
         FEEDBACK:  If you're so moved but never expected nor begged 
for.  Addy is 
ssbpmn@aol.com.  Please however, we request you respect the work, and 
the 
effort that goes into writing it.
         NOTE:  All parts of this story and previous chapters, as well 
as much of our 
other works, are available at 
                                     
               http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories
                                     
         The message archives are open to all registered Yahoo users-no 
subbing 
required.  Please ignore any notice of adult content you may see-there 
is no R nor 
NC17 content there.
                                     
                  Other archives containing our stories:
                                     
        http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/ or 
http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag
                                                   
      or the Harm-Mac shipper archive at    
http://hmarchive.topcities.com/index2.html  
[sadly, not always up and running]
                                     
        or BTL-
             http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/
           http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction 
archive.}
  
  Also our work is being featured at the following archive
          Http://www.capitalcitycollaborations.com

"Deception" Ch 2
==================
DeWITT ARMY MEDICAL CENTER
Thirty Minutes Later

"I'm not afraid you'll hurt me," Elizabeth sighed.  "I don't think that 
at all.  But we've worked 
really hard to get what we have now.  I mean when you and I were first 
partnered, I didn't 
even like you."

"Oh yeah but my charming self chased that away right off," Mitch 
grinned and when she 
simply looked at him, added, "well OK so it wasn't right off.  Within a 
few days.  Weeks.  Uh. . 
.months?"

He looked so serious that she burst into laughter and ruffled his hair 
affectionately.  "You 
have no idea how much I want. . ." she managed and anything further was 
cut off by his lips 
capturing hers as he cupped his hand at the back of her head and gently 
pulled her to him.

"Whoa wrong place," Harm called from the doorway.  "We've obviously 
bungled our way  into 
the No Tell Motel." 
  
  "You have great timing Rabb" Mitch groaned as Elizabeth pulled away.
  
  "Sorry" Harm grinned. "I guess this means you're okay?"
  
  "I was until you walked in" he laughed.
  
  "Seriously, is he okay?" Mac asked.
  
  "I'm waiting to find the doctor to see if they're going to let him go 
or 
  not" Elizabeth answered. "Did you guys find anything out at the 
murder 
  scene?"
  
  "Just the heel of a woman's dress shoe."
  
  "So we know there's a woman involved," Elizabeth said thoughtfully. 
"But 
  obviously she had help getting the body there."
  
  "I'm going with Colonel Wallings and her two sons" Mac nodded. "Harm 
still 
  has it in for Commander Billings."
  
  "Murder for hire" Harm smiled. "She obviously couldn't have done it 
alone."
  
  "What about two women?" Mitch countered.
  
  "Which two were you thinking of?" Harm frowned. "Billings and 
Wallings hate 
  each other. I don't thin they were working together on this."
  
  "So they told us. Maybe that was just their story. Maybe neither was 
happy 
  that he was seeing Ms. Claypool."
  
  Harm opened his mouth to protest and promptly closed it before 
opening it a 
  second later. "You know Hawkeye that's pretty good. I guess that hit 
on the 
  head didn't hurt you."
  
  "I keep trying to tell them I'm fine" Mitch laughed. "Course I could 
just be 
  spouting stuff here that makes no sense."
  
  "No I think you're on to something," Harm said seriously. "I mean we 
just 
  took it at face value that Billings and Wallings didn't like each 
other. We 
  never found out for sure."
  
  "And how do we find out for sure?" Mac asked.
  
  "We start with finding out where both of them were the night Martens 
was 
  killed."
  
  "You know they'll have alibis" Mac countered.
  
  "Yeah but not rock solid. I really think we're on to something here."
  
  "Well you two want to go since Mitch hasn't been sprung yet?" 
Elizabeth 
  asked. "And likely when they do spring him it's just going to be with 
the 
  orders to go home and rest.  Which of course means I'm going to have 
to go 
  with him and makes sure he does just that."
  
  "We'll just meet up tomorrow then" Harm nodded. "And by then 
hopefully have 
  some more answers."
  
  "Why don't you come by for dinner" Mitch offered. "I mean we'll order 
in and 
  you can bring us up to speed on what you found out."
  
  "Mitch that doesn't sound like resting" Elizabeth frowned.
  
  "Liz come on" he pleaded. "You know how much it's killing me to let 
Navy 
  here do our job."
  
  "Hey this is a joint effort" Mac reminded him. "This is just as much 
our job 
  as it is yours."
  
  "Yeah but you two are getting all the fun" Mitch grumbled. "If that 
idiot 
  behind me had been paying attention this morning we might have gotten 
  further today."
  
  "Rome wasn't built in a day soldier" Elizabeth smiled. "But we're 
making 
  headway and that's what counts. And it's up to Harm and Mac if they 
want to 
  come back tonight."
  
  "That's fine with me" Mac replied. "Harm what do you think?"
  
  "Yeah sure" he said finally. He knew in Mitch's spot he'd want to be 
part of 
  the action too and it wouldn't hurt for him and Mac to take the time. 
"We'll 
  head up to the Pentagon to see Commander Billings and then stop at 
Colonel 
  Wallings. If we're lucky we might even be able to find out what kind 
of 
  heals Ms. Claypool wears."
  
  "Thanks guys" Mitch smiled. "You have no idea how much I hated 
sitting here 
  all day."
  
  "Well you seemed to be enjoying yourself before we interrupted" Harm 
teased 
  and Elizabeth's cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
  
  "On that note, I think we'd better get going Commander" Mac laughed 
as she 
  tugged Harm's arm. "After we get directions of course."
  
  Mac jotted down the directions to Mitch's place and a few minutes 
later she 
  and Harm were on their way to the Pentagon.
  
  "They're cute you know that" Mac smiled. "They make a good couple."
  
  "Kind of like us."
  
  "We're a couple now?" she laughed.
  
  "You know what I mean."
  
  She could only smile as she watched him drive. He was surprising her 
more 
  and more and she couldn't wait until their date on Saturday.
  
  They arrived at the Pentagon a short time later and made their way to 
  Commander Billings office, only to find it empty.
  
  "Sorry ma'am, but the Commander's gone for the day" Mac was informed 
when 
  she asked at the nearby secretaries desk. " She'll be in tomorrow."
  
  "Thank you. Can you direct us to Ms. Claypool."
  
  "Sorry ma'am but she's also gone."
  
  "Doesn't anyone work anymore" Harm sighed as they walked back to the 
car.
  
  "Guess not. You think it's worth checking on Colonel Wallings?"
  
  "We can try. If she's not at the base, we at least know how to find 
her at 
  home. And if we strike out, we'll just call Mitch and Elizabeth and 
tell 
  them we didn't find out anything and we'll regroup tomorrow."
  
 "These people seem awfully slippery," Harm sighed.  "But yeah let's 
take a run out to Chez 
Wallings or Harrison or whatever that place is.  I'm not sure what 
we'll accomplish that we 
didn't the first time but maybe we can get an admission that would 
support her and Billings 
not being the bitter enemies they're purported to be."
 
 "OK but then let's give all this a break and let it settle," Mac 
returned.  "Otherwise we're just 
going round and round the mulberry bush and it's looking more muddled."
 
 "OK sounds like someone wants to have dinner with Elizabeth and 
Mitch."
 
 "Yeah guilty," she nodded.  "Pardon me for wanting a normal evening.  
I'm not real sure 
because I've had so few, but suddenly one couple having dinner with 
another seemed like a 
real normal-type thing to do.  After all, didn't we sort of maybe kind 
of half way establish that 
we're a couple?"
 
 "We established we're definitely a couple," he corrected with a grin.  
"At least we're going to 
give it our best shot ever aren't we?"
 
 "You damn right we're going to, and I for one am not going to let go 
of it very easily this time."
 
 He swallowed hard and looked over at her for as long as he dared given 
the traffic.  Long 
enough to make her blush.  A color that only deepened when he added, 
"nor am I.  And that's 
a promise."
 =============
 FAMILY HOUSING 
 Ft Belvoir Va
 25 Minutes later
 
 "We should have called first," Harm muttered.
 
 "Well yeah if we were going to drop in for tea," Mac laughed.  "I'm 
not in the habit of 
announcing investigative visits."  She hit the doorbell one last time 
and shook her head.  
"Honestly the place looks deserted.  In fact all the places looked 
deserted."
 
 Harm shrugged.  "Middle of the duty day.  Not everyone keeps the good 
hours we do.  You 
know this is something.  If you didn't know this was government 
housing, it could be just any 
where.  Each house is on what, at least a quarter acre, trees and 
grass.  I wonder who you 
have to sleep with to get assigned places like this."
 
 "Rabb get your mind out of the gutter.  This is one of those 
subdivisions that the military took 
over--bought out because that was cheaper than buying land and starting 
from scratch."
 
 "If you say so," Harm shrugged again.  "Why don't we have a look 
around."
 
 "Looking for?"
 
 "Something we can put in our report so we don't seem like we wasted 
the taxpayers' money 
coming out here."  He took her arm and guided her to the back of the 
house where they were 
surprised to see a garage and two wooden storage sheds.  "Naval housing 
was never like this 
when I was a kid.  We had like three rooms. . ."
 
 "Yeah and you walked two miles to the base school," she chided him, 
giving him a playful 
shove before she walked toward the garage.
 
 He watched her go for a minute and then walked toward the shed in the 
far corner of the 
yard, not sure what he was in search of but knowing from past 
experience sometimes clues 
came from odd places.
 
 It took Mac but a minute to determine the main door to the garage was 
shut securely and 
Mac walked around to the back.  Like Harm, not sure what she was 
looking for.  Leading from 
the back of the garage were tracks in the soft earth, deeper than a car 
would make she 
thought and nudged at one with her toe as she stared.  Almost like a 
tractor.  Idly she 
followed one a short distance, absorbed in thought.  So absorbed she 
did not hear the back 
door of the garage open.  
 
 She did however hear the roar of an engine. Motorcycle or. . .ATV.  
The realization hit her as 
the machine roared toward her, its rider clad all in black from his 
full-visor helmet to his knee 
high boots.  She thought she heard Harm scream her name even over the 
noise of the motor 
and for a long second she froze in place.  Just for that instant, for 
with her next breath. Two 
hundred pounds of sailor slammed into her, knocking her out of the way 
of the ever-
accelerating machine.
 
 The ATV roared away while Mac landed flat on her back, Harm on top of 
her.  He was 
panting hard from the run and his alarm, and she. . . "Mac? Mac you 
OK?"  She was not 
moving as she attempted to breath, air gurgling in her throat as her 
lungs painfully refilled.
  
 "Mac" he said anxiously again. "Mac come on you're scaring me."
 
 "I'm okay" she managed a long moment later, her breath still coming in 
short 
 gasps. "Just knocked the breath out of me."
 
 "Okay let's get you up" he said as he gently helped her to a sitting 
 position, his hand gently rubbing her back. "Slow deep breaths."
 
 It was several minutes before her breathing finally returned to normal 
and 
 he let out a long sigh of relief when she gave him a small smile. "I'm 
okay 
 now."
 
 "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. But that guy wasn't stopping."
 
 "You probably saved me from getting run down" she sighed. "So don't 
 apologize."
 
 "I'm guessing that's one of her sons" Harm frowned. "And I'll bet it's 
Mr. 
 Confused and doesn't know what to do with life. And when he comes back 
I'm 
 going to have a talk with him."
 
 "No you are not," she said firmly. "Besides you don't know how long it 
will 
 be before he gets back. We're not going to sit around here waiting."
 
 "Mac he could have killed you."
 
 "I doubt that. Besides you were on top of it sailor" she smiled. "I 
owe you 
 one."
 
 "I'm just glad you're okay," he said with a long sigh. "You have no 
idea how 
 scared I was when I saw him coming at you."
 
 "You were scared?"
 
 "Terrified. I haven't run that fast since the Jagathon. I wasn't sure 
I was 
 going to get to you in time."
 
 "Well you did and it's over so let's just forget about it. Obviously 
we're 
 not going to find Colonel Wallings and her son has disappeared so we 
might 
 as well call it a day."
 
 "I guess" he sighed. "You sure you're okay now?"
 
 "I'm fine. Just help me up."
 
 He scrambled to his feet and held out his hand to her. She gratefully 
 accepted it and with a small groan pushed herself to her feet.
 
 "You're not okay" he fretted. "What hurts?"
 
 "Everything. Harm you have almost a hundred pounds on me and you 
tackled me 
 like a linebacker" she laughed. "Of course I'm going to be sore. 
Nothing a 
 hot bath won't cure."
 
 "I'm sorry. I think we should call Elizabeth and Mitch and tell them 
we're 
 not going to make."
 
 "Harm I'm fine. Let's go."
 
 They had started around the garage when they heard the sound of a car 
 pulling up. More specifically two cars.
 
 "Should we make our presence known?" Mac whispered as they inched 
around the 
 garage. Harm motioned for her to be silent and a moment later he stuck 
his 
 head around the garage to see who was in the driveway.
 
 "No" he hissed. "It's Wallings. And you'll never guess who's with 
her."
 
 "Tell me" she whispered.
 
 "Commander Billings."  As he spoke he motioned for her to be silent as 
he 
 listened to the two women as they walked into the garage.
 
 "Whose car is that?" Mary Billing's asked.
 
 "Likely a friend of Jeffrey's or Brandon's," Michele frowned. "I'm not 
expecting anyone."
 
 "That's a government car though isn't it?"
 
 "I think they're on to us" Harm whispered as he turned back to Mac. 
"We're 
 going to have to let them know we're here."
 
 She nodded and slowly she and Harm made their way around the garage to 
the 
 driveway.
 
 "Colonel, Commander, isn't this a surprise?" Harm smiled. "And here I 
 thought you hated each other."
 
 "What the hell are you doing snooping around my place?" Michele 
demanded. "I 
 can have you arrested for trespassing."
 
 "And I could have you arrested for murder" Harm countered.
 
 "How dare you" she hissed. "You have no right to come to my home and 
make 
 such outlandish accusations."
 
 "Well then maybe you'd like to change your story. Seeing as how you 
both 
 lied to us. You and the good Commander here are obviously friends. And 
I can 
 guess how that came to be."
 
"You don't know nothing about nothing," Michele growled and her eyes 
fell on Mac, dirty from 
where she landed on the damp ground.  "Colonel did we take a spill?"

"She was nearly run down by someone on an ATV," Harm spat.  "And it's a 
good thing for the 
guy whoever he is that she's OK.  Else I'd be looking for him and he 
wouldn't be too pleased 
when I found him."

"I see," Michele nodded.  "Yeah we've had some problems with them 
tearing up yards and 
scaring people.  They're a real fad with the older teens and they ride 
them in the woods all the 
time."

"This one didn't come from the woods," Harm told her coldly.  "It came 
from the back of your 
garage like a bat out of hell."

Michele smiled disarmingly.  "I do in that case apologize for whichever 
of my sons was so 
careless, but people really, that's the way the kids take off.  I'm 
sure the last thing he 
expected was to find someone in his way."

"Let's get back to why we're here," Mac cut in.  "The death of Capt. 
Martens remember."  She 
studied the two women and felt Harm's thoughts mesh with hers.  They 
had been wondering 
how the body had gotten dumped where it was and remembered the woods 
were full of the 
tracks of the noisy four-wheelers.  If the machines were good enough 
for hunters to use to 
bring a dead deer out of the forest, they would easily serve the same 
purpose, to take a dead 
human in.

"By all means.  First we can dispense with the Commander's idiotic 
accusation," Michele 
stipulated, looking to Mary who had shrank back against the porch 
railing, looking like she 
wished she was anywhere but there.  "Come on in now that you're here.  
I don't know what I 
can tell you now that I didn't before."

"I think I'll just be going," Mary said softly.  "Michele i'll talk to 
you later."

"No Mary you won't be leaving just yet.  Come in please," Michele 
requested firmly.

"Really Michele, I want to go," Mary whispered.  "This isn't a good 
idea."

"Oh it's a very good idea," Michele smiled, unlocking the door to the 
house.

"Actually if Mary wants to go I think that's a great idea," Harm spoke 
up, dangling the keys for 
their car.  He sensed Mary's sudden reluctance to be anywhere near 
Michele and felt one 
could be played against the other.  "Mary why don't you and Mac head on 
back.  Mac's not 
feeling that great anyway.  And me and Michele here will stay and talk 
over this whole 
Martens situation."

Mac's eyes widened as soon as the full impact of Harm's words hit her.  
"Forget it Flyboy.  I'm 
not going anywhere."

"Yeah you are.  You're going to let Mary take you back and I'm going to 
stay here and talk to 
Michele."  His eyes met hers, steely in his determination.
  
 "So they're the one's who helped you dump Captain Marten's body" Harm 
said 
 as he turned around. "After you and Mary killed him."
 
 "Amazing where those ATV's can get to" Michele smiled. "And my sons 
will do 
 anything I ask them to do."
 
 "Like dispose of another body?"
 
 "Of course. Now sit down Commander while I make some calls."
 
 Harm sank back down in the chair, his mind only on one thing. Mac was 
alone 
 with the woman who had killed Martens. He'd told her to go, not 
realizing 
 that the two women had set them up. And if anything happened to her, 
he 
 would have no one to blame but himself.
 
 **********************
 I-95 South
 Half Hour Later
 
 "So where are we going?" Mac asked with a long sigh.  It had become 
more than obvious as 
soon as they left Belvoir that Mary was not the frightened woman she 
had seemed.  In a way 
Harm had played into her hands, and yet in another divide and conquer 
might not be a bad 
plan. "You can't just keep driving with me as your hostage."
 
 "Don't worry Colonel I have a special place in mind for you" Mary 
Billings 
 smiled. "Somewhere they won't find you for a while."
 
 "And after you dump my body, then what?" Mac asked, sizing up the 
situation.  She knew 
she could take this woman, just not in a car speeding along at 70 MPH. 
"You're going to go 
back 
 to the Pentagon like nothing happened?"
 
 "Of course not. I'm getting out of DC for good."
 
 "Why did you kill him?" Mac asked.
 
 "You have to ask that?" Mary Billings laughed. "After ten years of 
taking 
 care of Marshall, he turned on me. And it was that bitch Claypool's 
fault."
 
 "I don't understand?"
 
 "Marshall and I went out once a few months back. He'd had a fight with 
Michele and he was 
 feeling down and wanting to talk. We went back to my place and I'm 
sure you can guess 
what 
 happened. Besides talking. I thought then it was going to happen for 
us. But it didn't. And 
 then Laura entered the picture and it was over for good."
 
 As Mary spoke, Mac carefully reached her hand down to where the phone 
still 
 sat in her purse. She managed to hit the power button without Mary 
noticing 
 and she held back a silent sigh. All she had to do was hit three 
numbers and 
 the police would be on to them.
 
 "So you were in love with him and when you realized it wouldn't 
happen, you 
 decided to kill him."
 
 "Oh it wasn't just me. Michele wanted him dead too. So we worked up a 
plan 
 and then made it happen. And you know he never had a clue what was 
going on 
 that night. I'll never forget the look of shock when I stuck the knife 
in 
 his heart. Like I'd betrayed him. He was the one who betrayed me."
 
 She glanced at Mac just as Mac reached to dial 911 on her cell phone.
 
 "What are you doing?" she demanded as with suprising speed she 
snatched the purse with 
one hand while keeping the other on the road. With a quick glance down 
she realized 
 Mac had turned on her cell phone. She grabbed the phone and pressed 
the 
 power window button on the car. 

Mac reached towards her and stopped, the vision of the car crashing 
into the trees or worse, 
another car, making her cautious.

Seconds later Mary heaved the phone out the 
 window. It hit the highway before bouncing into the trees that 
separated the 
 north and south lanes of the highway.
 
 "Not a smart move Colonel" Mary snapped. "But now I don't have to 
worry 
 about anyone finding you do I."
 
 Mac leaned back in the seat and let out a long sigh. She was going to 
have 
 to find another way to get away from this woman. But not while they 
were on 
 the highway doing seventy. She'd wait until Mary pulled off and then 
she'd 
 make her move. In the meantime she could only pray that Michele hadn't 
hurt 
 Harm. And that Elizabeth and Mitch would get to him before it was too 
late.
 
 ****************
 Wallings Home
 
 "There's a car in the drive," Mitch said as they drove past the home 
before 
 parking several houses down. "And there's Harm and Mac's car."
 
 "Something is big time wrong" Elizabeth sighed. "I can feel it."
 
 "Yeah and I'm getting that bad feeling too. And I'm hating that you're 
 here."
 
 "Mitch, Harm and Mac could be in serious trouble. I'm not going to let 
you 
 go in there alone."
 
 "Well it was worth a try. So what's our move Soldier?"
 
 "Let's get up to the window's and see if we can see anything. Then 
we'll go 
 from there."
 
 He nodded and they slowly crept towards the home, weapons drawn. Mitch 
led 
 the way, moving cautiously from the neighbor's yard to the back of the 
 house. He moved towards the large patio door, quickly glancing in 
before 
 ducking back.
 
 "Well?" she whispered.
 
 "Harm's in there with Wallings and some guy I guess is her son. 
They're both 
 armed."
 
 "What about Mac?"
 
 "No sign of her. Unless they have her somewhere else. We can check the 
 bedroom's first."
 
 "Good idea. I don't want to go barging in and she's being held 
somewhere 
 else."
 
 Mitch nodded and slowly they crept around the house to the other 
windows.
 
 "Nothing. I don't think she's there."
 
 "Where would she be?" Elizabeth frowned. "I don't get it. She and Harm 
 wouldn't have split up."
 
 "Not willingly" Mitch sighed, though he knew in his heart Harm would 
have removed Mac 
from a dangerous situation had it been in his power to do so.
   
"We need to get some help in here," Elizabeth whispered.

"You want to call in a SWAT team with him being held at gunpoint?" 
Mitch reminded her.   "I 
don't think he'd live to see the outcome."

"Do you know how much I hate it when you're right," she groused.  "OK 
what if we maybe 
make some noise and get one of them to come out and check it.  That 
might distract the other 
one enough for us to make a flanking attack."

"I love it when you talk Army," he grinned. "Just please for godsake 
watch yourself."

"Promise.  There's a lot more I want from you yet," she grinned. 

"And I from you," he said softly, touching the back of his hand to her 
cheek.  "OK Rambo, 
what's the plan?"

"Just try to get one of them out here.  With the odds better, Harm may 
be able to do 
something or at least we'll be able to handle just one being with them.  
I'll ring the doorbell 
and yell something that will make one of them come out just to shut me 
up and you be ready."

He nodded and led the way back to the front of the house.  Once at the 
door he stood to one 
side and nodded to her.  "You better have something good up that 
sleeve," he mouthed, 
withdrawing his weapon and putting it behind his back.

She took a long breath and rang the doorbell, then pounded on the door.  
"Anyone in there?  
Someone needs to come out here real quick.  I just backed into your car 
and I think it's 
leaking gas or something.  I'm real sorry. Hello?  Anyone at home?  I 
can call the police but 
someone better come see."

"What the hell is that shouting?" Michele yelped as Jeffrey strained to 
see out the window, 
knowing he had left his car nearby.  

"Some bitch is saying she hit my car.  She's going to be one sorry 
woman," he shouted and 
sprang for the door.

Elizabeth gave a few steps back, pointing vaguely to the street.  "I. . 
.I don't know what 
happened.  I was just backing out from over there and all of a sudden I 
heard this awful noise 
and smelled gasoline.  I'm sorry.  I'm so upset.  You want to come take 
a look?"

"You damn right I do."  Jeffrey stepped outside and she moved back even 
further, wanting to 
give Mitch the room he would need.

It was but a second later when her partner's arm clamped around 
Jeffrey's head, a big hand 
going over his mouth and Mitch wasted no time in putting his weapon to 
his head at the same 
time Emily drew hers.

"You resisting arrest boy?" Mitch demanded.  "I'm about a half second 
away from needing an 
excuse to splatter your brains over this porch.  Now we're going to 
walk real nice and slow 
down to that big dark sedan over there, and I'm going to pray you're 
going to give me an 
excuse to pull this trigger."

Jeffrey's eyes showed the fear he was feeling and he shook his head 
indicating he would 
offer no resistance.  Once at the car, Elizabeth opened the trunk and 
they handcuffed their 
prisoner, then pushed him into the back seat.  With his hands locked 
behind him, it was a 
simple matter to secure him in place with the seat belt.

"OK now we just have to get Harm.  It doesn't sound like he was able to 
move on the 
Colonel," Elizabeth sighed.  "On the other hand the door is still 
cracked so we can get in.  
That work for you?"

"We split up and do that flanking thing. Maybe get Harm's attention so 
he knows what's going 
on?"

"Yeah.  Just need to be careful. She's armed."

"Well so are we."
  
 He moved around to the back of the house again while Elizabeth stayed 
at the 
 front. He stole a glance through the patio window, seeing that Michele 
was 
 now pacing the room where Harm was. Her attention was diverted forward 
and 
 when she walked from the room, Mitch took the gamble and knocked 
lightly on 
 the back patio window. Harm turned around and caught sight of Mitch 
just as 
 Michele walked back into the room.
 
 "Something wrong?" Harm asked as he carefully kept his attention 
forward.
 
 "Nothing" she snapped. She'd just noticed that Jeffrey was no longer 
in the 
 driveway and instead was now sitting in the back of a nearby car. That 
meant 
 someone was here. Likely the other duo that had been helping the 
Commander 
 and Colonel. She needed to think of something quick before they made 
their 
 move.
 
 It was at that precise moment that Mitch pounded on the door before 
ducking 
 to the side of it. With the front door open for Elizabeth, he would 
draw 
 Michele to the back.
 
 "You really think I'm going to fall for that one" Michele laughed as 
she 
 motioned Harm to his feet with the wave of her gun. "Come on 
Commander. 
 You're going to go check on our visitor."
 
 Harm nodded and led Michele to the back door. At the front of the 
house, 
 Elizabeth quietly slipped inside, her weapon poised as she crept 
towards the 
 back.
 
 "Your friends must have come to bail you out," Michele said as she 
quickly 
 looked out through the patio door, her attention momentarily diverted 
when 
 she caught sight of Mitch. That was all Harm needed and he made his 
move, 
 reaching for her arm that held the gun.
 
 "Freeze" Elizabeth ordered as she ran into the room. "Let go Wallings 
or 
 it's all over."
 
 Knowing she was cornered, Michele let Harm take the gun and Elizabeth 
let 
 out a long sigh as Mitch came running in behind her.
 
 "Got her?" he panted.
 
 "Yep. Now where the hell is Mac?"
 
 "I made her go with Mary" Harm said anxiously as he handed Michele to 
Mitch. 
 "Which was a huge mistake. These two were in on Martens' death 
together. But 
 Mary was the one who actually put the knife in him."
 
 "Do you have any idea where they went?" Elizabeth asked.
 
 "Not unless she does," Harm said miserably as he looked at Michele.
 
 "I'm not telling you anything. Except that Mary Billings is the 
biggest 
 fruit loop on this planet. Your partner is probably already dead and 
Mary is 
 on her way out of town."
 
 "You'd better hope that's not the case" Harm growled as he looked at 
 Michele. "You set us up and so help me God if anything has happened to 
Mac 
 I'll make sure you never see the light of day again."
 
 "She may have taken her south" Michele said quietly. "Mary's family 
has a 
 farm just outside of Ladysmith."
 
 "We'll get on the phone to the authorities" Mitch said as he led 
Michele 
 out. "And we'll start getting them looking out for Mary and Mac down 
there."
 
 "I'm not sitting around here waiting" Harm countered. "Mac is out 
there 
 somewhere and I'm going to find her."
 
 "Harm we'll go with you" Elizabeth said gently. "Give us two minutes 
to get 
 someone over to pick these two up and we'll go with you. Well at least 
one 
 of us will. The other should go back home."
 
 "I'm fine" Mitch sighed. "I'm sure as hell not letting you and Harm go 
alone 
 to find Mac. Not when you're going after the real killer."
 
 "Fine. I'll call information and see where this Billings farm might 
be. Harm 
 just stay cool."
 
 "How the hell can I stay cool when Mac is with her" Harm wailed. "And 
I 
 don't even know if she's alive or dead."
 
 "Don't give up on your Marine just yet," Elizabeth said seriously. 
"I'm sure 
 Mac knows how to take care of herself."
 
 ***************
 Ladysmith, VA
 Same Time
 
 As soon as they'd exited the highway, Mac had waited for her chance to 
make 
 a move on Mary. She had no idea where Mary was planning on taking her 
but 
 she wasn't going to wait to find out.
 
 "My family has an old farm down here" Mary smiled as she made the turn 
onto 
 the quiet country road. "I'll be able to drop you out here and no one 
will 
 ever find the remains."
 
 "Like hell" Mac murmured under her breath. There was no way she was 
going to 
 wait to be murdered. She'd take her chances before that happened.
 
 Another turn onto another dirt road and Mac decided she needed to make 
her 
 move before Mary had her too far away from civilization.
 
 She took a deep breath, conjuring up Harm's face for courage.  "I love 
you Flyboy," she 
breathed and at the same time grabbed the steering wheel, planning to 
turn the car to the 
ditch on her side of the road.  

Mary screamed like a stuck banshee and as she turned her attention to 
Mac, her foot floored 
the accelerator.  The car shot forward, jumping the shallow ditch and a 
second later slammed 
into a tree.  The exploding airbags sounded like gunfire and then there 
was silence.  Silence 
save the flames that were beginning to crackle under the hood.  Sense 
returned slowly to 
Mac.  Her head had slammed violently against the side window, and she 
felt a warm trickle of 
blood along the side of her face.  

Angrily she pushed the deflated airbag out of her way and yanked off 
her seatbelt.  By the 
time she had managed to exit the car, the fire under the hood was fully 
erupted.  Her ribs, 
badly bruised by the airbag, screamed in protest as she ran to the 
driver's side to deal with 
Mary.  

The older woman was slumped over the wheel, obviously unconscious and 
Mac pulled on the 
door handle.  But to no avail.  The impact had bent the door and it was 
not budging.  
"Dammit," she screamed, watching the flames invade the passenger area 
from beneath the 
steering wheel.  

One more desperate attempt consisted of her returning to the passenger 
side, about to crawl 
across the seat to Mary.  She had just gotten half way inside when 
there was an enormous 
whoosh of flame from under the hood as the gas line erupted.  The heat 
broke over her like a 
giant ocean wave and feeling her exposed skin react to the searing 
temperature, she fell back 
onto the ground.   About to attack once more, it was as if a giant hand 
stopped her.  
Powerless to move, she could only watch as the car was fully engulfed 
and she found herself 
saying a prayer that Mary Billings did not suffer.

"Please god let someone have seen," she panted, lying on the ground.  
Her sore ribs again 
reminded her of their presence and she became aware of the pain from 
where her skin had 
been seared.  For a good ten minutes she lie quietly on the cold 
ground, watching the flames 
die down and listening in vain for sirens.  They were too far away from 
inhabited space for 
anyone to have seen.
==================
FT. BELVOIR
Same Time

"Yes sir, OK thank you.  I owe you one Ted, big time."

"Who the hell is Ted?" Mitch frowned, hearing the last of Elizabeth's 
phone call as she walked 
back up to where he was waiting and Harm was frantically pacing.

"You got the information didn't you?" Harm demanded.

"Relax Commander," she smiled and turned to Mitch.  "You too Partner.  
Ted is Colonel Ted 
Marchand, OIC of the chopper wing.  You see where I'm going with that?"

Mitch gave her a look of sheer admiration. "Oh yeah.  You called in a 
couple of markers didn't 
you?"

"I did."

"You mean we're getting a. . ." Harm dared to hope.

"Warming up on the pad.  We'll be in the air in fifteen minutes---soon 
as we can get over to 
the hangar."
===============
RURAL LADYSMITH

"OK Marine you're going to be on your own here," Mac sighed.  "At least 
for a while.  How 
hard could it be to recon your way back to a road that's actually 
used."

She had that answer twenty minutes later for her ribs protested each 
step, her skin was as if it 
was aflame, and she had a new problem.  An ache in her head that pulsed 
with each step she 
took, sending white hot pain shooting across her forehead behind her 
eyes.

"Harm I need you.  I need you now," she called softly.
 
 ***************
 Fort Belvoir
 Same Time
 
 "Thanks Ted" Elizabeth smiled as the Colonel led them towards the 
waiting 
 chopper. "I owe you one for this."
 
 "No problem. I'll collect later" he smiled. "Just go find the Colonel 
before 
 it's too late."
 
 "You did that on purpose didn't you?" Mitch hissed as they climbed 
aboard 
 the chopper a minute later.
 
 "Oh will you grow up already. He's just a friend and we've always 
teased 
 each other like that. Besides I know Mrs. Marchand very well."
 
 "He's married?"
 
 "Yes. And now can we get back to what's important. Which is finding 
Mac."
 
 Harm climbed aboard right behind them, his face masking all the 
emotion he 
 was feeling at the moment. He couldn't stop blaming himself for making 
Mac 
 go with Mary and he knew if anything had happened to her it would be 
his 
 fault.
 
 "Harm we're going to find her" Elizabeth said softly as she put a 
gentle 
 hand to his arm. "We've got the deputies in the area looking for the 
car and 
 once we get down there it shouldn't take long to spot them."
 
 "That's if she's still in the same car. What if she's bailed and 
gotten a 
 new car. We'll never find her."
 
 "Have a little more faith will you. We're going to find her. And she's 
going 
 to be fine."
 
 He wanted to believe her but he couldn't. Not when he could feel the 
growing 
 anxiety in the pit of his stomach. She was in trouble, that he knew 
for 
 sure. He just prayed they weren't too late.
 
 "Hang on Sarah" he murmured as the chopper lifted off the ground. "I'm 
 coming."
 
 In no time they were in the Ladysmith area and three sets of eyes 
peered 
 down from the chopper, looking for Mary's car on the back roads 
leading to 
 the Billings family farm.
 
 "There" Elizabeth pointed a short time later and motioned the pilot to 
take 
 it down closer. Harm followed her gaze and he drew in a sharp breath 
when he 
 saw the car in the tree. As the chopper came down closer, his anxiety 
rose 
 as he realized the car was burned out from a fire that had consumed 
it.
 
 "Oh god no please" he whispered. "Please don't let her be dead."
 
 "Mitch go" Elizabeth urged as the chopper touched down. "Before he 
does."
 
 Mitch nodded and he quickly ripped off the headphones and jumped down 
from 
 the chopper before Harm realized what he was doing.
 
 "Harm wait" Elizabeth said as she grabbed his arm as he started out of 
the 
 chopper.
 
 "I have to get to Mac," he shouted. "Let me go."
 
 "If she's in there, she's not alive Harm" Elizabeth said quietly. "We 
both 
 know that. And you don't need to see that if it's the case."
 
 "She can't be dead" he whispered as he sank back in the seat. "I just 
can't 
 lose her." He sat for one second before suddenly jumping out of the 
chopper 
 and sprinting towards the car.
 
 "Harm it's not her" Mitch said as he stopped him. "There's only one 
person 
 in the car and it's Mary. The medals are Navy, not Marine."
 
 "Thank you God" Harm murmured, for the moment relieved she wasn't in 
the 
 car. But that relief was short as he realized that meant they had no 
idea 
 where Mac was.
 
 "I don't know where Mac is," Mitch said as he read his mind. "Likely 
she got 
 out before the car went up in flames and is trying to hike it back to 
 somewhere."
 
 "Or Mary killed her and dumped her body somewhere" Harm whispered. 
"And 
 we'll never find her."
 
 "Always the optimist I see" Mitch shook his head. "I doubt that was 
the 
 case. I have a little more faith in your Marine than that."
 
 As he spoke Elizabeth ran towards them from the chopper. "They've got 
her 
 Harm. A deputy found her just a few miles down from here. She's hurt 
but 
 nothing that won't heal with lots of TLC from you. He's radioed for an 
 ambulance and they're going to take her to Mary Washington Hospital in 
 Frederick."
 
 "Get me to her please" Harm begged and Elizabeth smiled as Mitch gave 
him a 
 gentle tug back to the chopper.
 
 "Be happy to. Come on."

Later Harm would swear he did not take a single breath in the ten 
minutes it took the chopper 
to lift off and touch down again on the helipad on the hospital's roof.  
As soon as the skids hit, 
he was flinging the door open and running for the stairwell.

"He's going to get arrested as an escapee from the fourth floor," Mitch 
laughed and pointed.  

"Yeah so let's go after him before that happens," Elizabeth urged.  

Mitch climbed through the chopper door and reached back for her, and 
when she gave him 
her hand and stepped to him, she felt him sway slightly.

"OK that's it mister.  You have done more than you should today and 
we're going to find you a 
place to sit and rest," she said firmly.

"I'm OK, just a little tired," he insisted.  "A little dizzy spell.  
Big deal."

"It is a very big deal for someone who had a head injury," she hissed, 
her arm going around 
his back.  "Now we're going to find where Harm and Mac are, and you're 
going to sit down or I 
swear I'll have you lying down in an exam room.  Don't mess with me 
Colonel.  I'm not in the 
mood."

"I'm fine, but I wouldn't mind a spell of quiet," he sighed, giving her 
all the more reason to be 
concerned.

They made their way down to the second floor as directed by the head 
nurse and found Harm 
pacing the hallway.

"Harm?" Elizabeth called gently.

"No news at all, except she's being treated," he fretted.  "Nothing.  I 
can't even find out how 
she is and . . .Mitch are you OK?"

"No  he's not but the jackass won't admit it," Elizabeth growled.  
"He's done way too much."

"And I appreciate every second of his help," Harm sighed, taking his 
arm.  "Sit down Colonel.  
If not for yourself then for your partner who loves you.  God knows 
why."

"I ask myself that too," he smiled, reaching to touch her cheek.  "But 
maybe it's because I 
loved her first."

"Mitch. . ."  Her mouth dropped open at his soft words.  "I guess we 
have a little talking to do."

"Yeah I would say so," he sighed, leaning his head back against the 
back of the sofa.  "But 
let's wait until I'm of sounder mind."

"I'm worried about you," she whispered.  "Please let them check you 
over."

He shook his head.  "No thanks.  I promise I'll check in at DeWitt if 
I'm still feeling rocky later."

"OK but you heard him Harm.  I'm holding you to that promise."

Harm nodded, happy for them that they were seemingly finding their way 
through a maze of 
feelings, praying he would get that chance with Mac.

It took another half hour but finally a nurse approached them.  "Family 
of Sarah Mackenzie?"

"Yes ma'am," Harm spoke up at once, studying her face.  "It's about 
damn time.  Can I see 
her?  How is she?  She's going to be OK?  How is she?"

"That's two for 'how is she'," Ellie Bennigan smiled, "and the answer 
is scary."

"Excuse me?" he gasped.  "How scary--why scary?"

"Because she has cream on her burns that's why," Ellie smiled.  "Now if 
she was a kid we'd 
have done something in a Day-Glo color, but she requested the white.  
It's to cool and soothe 
the skin and take the pain away."

"I. . .I didn't know she was burned," he gasped, at the same time 
realizing he had been in 
denial about that since seeing the car.

"Superficial first degree," Amy assured him quickly.  "And she has some 
badly bruised ribs 
that she's going to hear from a lot over the next month.  Also a minor 
concussion that 
shouldn't give her any problem, and before you ask, no she can't go 
home.  Dr. Phillips is 
admitting her for twenty-four hours observation.  An idea that's not 
sitting well with her by the 
way."

"Yeah I'll straighten that out first thing," he growled, feeling 
himself shake with relief knowing 
she was all right.  "Take me to her please."
   
 He nearly ran into the room when he reached it, letting out a long 
sigh of 
 relief when he saw her for himself. She was alive and that was all 
that 
 mattered.
 
 "Sarah thank God" he whispered as he dropped down into the chair next 
to her 
 bed.
 
 At the sound of his voice, her eyes flew open. "Harm thank God you're 
okay" 
 she wailed. "I didn't know what was going to happen to you. I knew 
Mary had 
 killed Martens but I didn't know how much was the truth or lie and 
what 
 Michele had planned for you and" Her words were stopped by a gentle 
finger 
 to her mouth.
 
 "Breathe Marine. I'm here and I'm fine. With the exception of being 
scared 
 to death about you."
 
 "She didn't hurt you?" Mac whispered when he removed his finger.
 
 "No. The Cavlary saved the day. We owe our friends at the Army a big 
big 
 thank you. First they saved my six and then they got a chopper to help 
find 
 you."
 
 "I was scared for you. I didn't know what she was going to do."
 
 "And I was just as scared for you" he said softly. "When we got to the 
car 
 and saw what had happened" He stopped and choked back a sob that 
 threatened. "I was so afraid I'd lost you forever" he managed finally.
 
 "I was going to let her kill me. There was no way. I had a date with a 
 sailor I wasn't planning on missing."
 
 "I think we'll have to postpone that a bit" he whispered. "They want 
you to 
 stay here for twenty-four and then I think you should take some time 
to 
 rest."
 
 "Harm I don't want to stay. I want to go home."
 
 "Twenty-four hours. And I'll be here with you the whole time. They 
just want 
 to make sure you're really okay and so do I. You really scared me."
 
 "I did the only thing I could Harm" she whispered. "I grabbed the 
steering 
 wheel from her and took us into the ditch. I tried to get her out 
before the 
 car exploded."
 
 "That's how you got burned isn't it? You were too close when it went 
up."
 
 Her hands started towards her face and he quickly intercepted them. 
"They've 
 got cream on it. It's best not to touch it. I must look like the bride 
of Frankenstein" she sighed.
 
 "Not to me" he whispered as he leaned forward and dropped a quick kiss 
on 
 her lips. "This will all heal in time and all that matters to me right 
now 
 is that you're going to be okay."
 
 "You were really that scared?" she asked.
 
 "Petrified" he admitted. "I was so afraid I wasn't ever going to tell 
you 
 something very important. Something you should already know but if you 
don't 
 it's only because I could never get my act together and tell you. I 
love you 
 Sarah. And I want to go steady with you for a really long time."
 
 "We haven't even had our first date yet" she sniffled. "How can you be 
sure 
 you want to go steady?"
 
 "I know I love you and I don't want anyone else in my life but you. 
That 
 makes it pretty easy to figure out."
 
 "I'll be happy to go steady with you" she whispered. "Because I love 
you 
 too. Thinking about you is what got me through today. I had too much 
to look 
 forward to."
 
 He leaned forward for another kiss just as Elizabeth peeked her head 
into 
 the room.
 
 "Sorry for the interruption" she smiled. "I just wanted to make sure 
 everything was okay here. I'm going to take Mitch home now."
 
 "Is he okay?" Harm asked.
 
 "He swears he's fine and that all he needs is to go home and rest. 
Which is 
 probably the case but you know I'm going to worry."
 
 "That's what happens when you love them" Harm smiled as he reached for 
Mac's 
 hand. "I'll be camped out here for the next twenty-four hours so we'll 
catch 
 up with you guys in a few days I guess."
 
 "I hear I owe you guys a big thank you" Mac said as she looked at 
Elizabeth. 
 "For keeping this guy in my life."
 
 "All in a days work" Elizabeth smiled. "We were glad to help. Except 
that if 
 there's ever a next time, don't try and play heroes and figure the 
whole 
 thing out on your own. "
 
 "We won't" Mac nodded. "Thank you again for everything."
 
 "No problem. Maybe we can all get together one night when everyone's 
feeling 
 better. An evening out without case talk."
 
 "Sounds great" Harm smiled. "Thanks Elizabeth. Go get Mitch and get 
out of 
 here."
 
 "I will. It's been great working with you two. We'll catch up with you 
 later."
 
 "I like her" Harm said when Elizabeth was gone.
 
 "Me too" Mac smiled. "Her and Mitch are good people."
 
 "Speaking of her and Mitch, I think they finally realized what we did. 
The 
 big confession came out a short time ago."
 
 "I'm glad for them. They seem to be good for each other."
 
 "Yeah they are. And you need to be resting Marine, so close those 
brown eyes 
 and get some sleep."
 
 "You'll be here?" she said softly.
 
 "Always" he smiled.
   
"That sounds almost like a promise."

"You keep those two words in mind please."

"Harm don't play games with me please.  Whatever they're dripping into 
me here is making 
me awful spacey.  I would surrender the fifth fleet without question at 
this point.  Now what 
two words?"

"Always and promise."  With that he leaned down and kissed her softly,  
scooting her over to 
sit with her and carefully lifting her partly onto his lap.  "Thank you 
Lord," he said just under 
his breath as he stroked her back, soothing her into sleep.  "Thank you 
for not taking her from 
me today.  I don't deserve another chance with her but you gave it to 
me.  Trust me to make it 
right."

END Chapter 2
Concluding Chapter to follow