TITLE: "Past Present Future III---Escape" AUTHORS: Anne R. and Pat Steiner SUMMARY: The third chapter of the PPF series, in which the matters of Lt. Harmon Rabb Sr. and Sergei Zhukov are re-visited. All will be Harm-Mac stories of course, with Clayton Webb; and rated PG for mild language and violence. DISCLAIMER: JAG belongs to CBS, Paramount et al. No copyright infringement is intended with this work of fiction. FEEDBACK: Yes, if you're moved to do so, to [SSbpmn@aol.com] and it would be much appreciated by both of us. However, if your intent is only to tell us you are not liking our work, please don't spend the time. While we realize our work does not please everyone, we do ask that the journey be respected. NOTE: All parts of this story, and the parts of the previous chapters, will be available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories Additionally all chapters should be available at http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag/ or the Harm-Mac shipper archive at- http://www.shipperarchive.com/fanfic/ "Past Present Future III-Escape" With his teeth set against the pain in his arm, Harm managed to have the navigational computer turn out the coordinates he was looking for and he set the Gulfstream on course, its nose up for altitude to minimize fuel usage. "Harm where are we going," Clay demanded as he felt the plane lift and turn. "You do know I hope." "Yes I do," he answered. "And it's not in Southeast Asia I can promise you. Since we're not sure who we can trust, and with Mac sick and me. . ." "You what?" "Nothing. With Mac sick like this I'm not taking any chances. I'm flying us to Diego Garcia. Naval Support Facility will have an infirmary to take care of us. How's she doing?" "Drifting in and out from her fever," he answered and Harm groaned miserably, mentally kicking himself for bringing her there. "Just take care of her," he begged, sinking into the pilot's chair and momentarily closing his eyes against the pain in his arm, which was not the most pressing problem anyway. The bleeding was and his long sleeve was soaked.. His eyes fell on a first aid kit and he reached for it eagerly, glad to see a roll of bandage inside. A few attempts to take care of it himself failed and he knew he had no choice. "Clay come up here for a minute please," he called. "Bring a towel with you." A minute later Clay appeared in the doorway. "Here but what. . .Jesus Rabb don't you know how to duck?" His breath sucked in sharply as he saw the amount of blood. "Why the hell didn't you say something?" "Who was going to fly this bucket, you?" he retorted. "At that moment all I wanted was to get this thing in the air away from people who wanted to kill us. To get Mac away from there. Now I need to get this bleeding stopped before I'm too woozy to land her." Clay took one look at his increasing pallor and pressed the towel to the gaping hole in his upper arm. "It went right through but it took out a chunk here," he murmured. "Sit down before you fall, and from the way you look, woozy is about here." "Just don't let me pass out on you," he ordered. "I promised Mac I'd see her to help and that's what I'm going to do. Get it wrapped up will you." Clay poured some disinfectant from the kit onto the area and Harm could not help a sharp yelp of pain. "Harm is that you? What's wrong?" Mac's voice from the passenger area. "Go tell her I'm fine. I don't want her to see this," he hissed. Not wanting to waste time arguing, Clay leaned took a few steps inside, keeping his now bloodied hands behind him. "Mac he's OK. He just heard he's being charged for the gas for this crate that's all. You sit tight. I'll be right there." "Harm I want to see you," she moaned. "Yeah OK, just a minute," he answered hastily. "Harm something's wrong." Instinctively she knew all was not well and she started to rise. "Mac give me two minutes and I'll be right there," he promised and looked up to Clay. "Hurry up." Clay ripped away the ruined sleeve and with the towel cleaned up as much as he could, then his own training standing him in good stead, wrapped the wound. "You need help as bad as she does." "Working on it," he gasped, finally letting out his breath. "Harm where are you?" "I'm coming, one sec," he called. "Clay we're on course and on auto pilot. Don't touch anything but holler for me if anything lights up or something." "Harm I'm no pilot." "You drive in D.C. You can fly in empty sky." With that he slipped through the door to where Mac was, curled up on two seats, her head on a pillow from the storage compartment. "Hey Ninja girl," he whispered, squatting in front of her. "It's OK. We're on our way to help. But you need to hang on. You're going to be fine. I promise you. Just rest easy." His hand went out to her forehead and he pushed some of the straggly hair off. As Clay had said, her fever raged with her cheeks fiery red. "Harm something is. . ." she began and her eyes fell on the bandage. "You were shot? Harm my god how bad?" "Mac, it's okay" he said quickly. "It went straight through and I'm fine." "Harm, being shot is not okay" Mac said as she attempted to sit up, only to be met by Harm's restraining hand. "Mac, I'm fine, just sit please" Harm ordered. "I'm taking us to Diego Garcia and we'll get you taken care of." "And you. Harm, you were shot." "Mac, I'll be fine until we get on the ground" he assured her. "Please just relax until we get there." She nodded and closed her eyes again. He sat with her for a minute before heading back to the cockpit. "You okay?" Clay asked as Harm sunk into the pilot's seat. "Yeah, I want you to go stay with Mac" Harm sighed. "Make sure she's okay.' "I think I'd better stay up here with you" Clay retorted. "If you pass out we're all in trouble." "Clay, I'll be fine" "Harm I'm not delirious with fever like Mac is. I can tell you're hurting and I saw how much blood you lost. I'm staying up here with you." "Did you get your pilot's license in the last five minutes?" Harm snapped, his concern for Mac along with his own pain making him irritable. "No, but I'm sure you could walk me through it" Clay said calmly. "Look, I'm sorry" Harm said quietly. "This is not what I planned on happening. It's my nightmare." "I know and I'm sorry that I got you and Mac in this mess" Clay sighed. "Honest, Harm, I never had any idea something like this would happen. I need to find Nguyen and find out if he had anything to do with this." "I'm going with you. Cause if he did I'm going to wring his neck." They settled into a silence, Clay keeping a careful eye on Harm, not sure what he would do if Harm passed out. He let out a silent sigh of relief when Harm radioed the island, knowing it wouldn't be much longer. "Clay, makes sure Mac is buckled in" Harm said as they neared the island. "And yourself." "Harm, I'm coming back up here with you." "No, I'm fine" Harm assured him. "I'd rather you were in the back with her in case I have problems landing this thing." "You sure?" "Yeah, go" Harm said as the island came into view beneath them. "I'll be fine." Clay gave him one last look before heading out of the cockpit. He quickly snapped Mac's seat belt and sat down himself next to her. In the cockpit, Harm forced himself to stay awake. All that mattered was getting the plane on the ground safely and getting Mac to the hospital. The world spun dizzily around him and for a moment he wasn't sure he was going to be able to land the plane. He was about to call for Clay when the dizziness finally subsided and he blinked several times to bring the airstrip into focus. "Please Lord, let me get this plane on the ground safely" he whispered as he approached the runway. The landing was anything but textbook, Harm fighting to stay awake as the wheels hit the runway. He somehow managed to bring the plane to a stop before giving into the pain and darkness, slumping back in the seat. "Harm" Clay called as he hurried from his seat to the cockpit "Harm...damn it, Harm, can you hear me?" "Clay, what's wrong?" Mac said as she attempted to stand up. "Is Harm okay?" "No, and neither are you" Clay said as he hurried back to grab her before she fell. The sound of the sirens from the base emergency personnel told him help was on the way and he let out a sigh of relief. Seconds later he was met by the corpsmen, who quickly took Mac from him. "What happened to her?' the corpsman asked. "Knife wound on the side" Clay informed him. "She's got a fever and I'm sure the wound is infected." "And him?" the corpsman asked pointing to Harm. "Gunshot" Clay sighed. The corpsman gave Clay a curious look but said nothing, finally lifting Mac into his arms and taking her down to a waiting stretcher. Two others returned to take Harm and Clay hovered over them as they carried Harm down from the plane. The stretchers were loaded onto either side of the back of the waiting ambulance and Clay without waiting for permission clambered up as well, planting himself in the space in between. "Don't even suggest it," he warned as the corpsman opened his mouth to speak. The medic simply climbed in as well and slammed the door. "Mac?" Harm murmured weakly as the vehicle got underway. "Harm she's right here beside you," Clay assured him. "Be still now. You're supposed to be unconscious or something." "No Mac," he murmured, stretching his head to attempt to look for her. "Harm she's right here," Clay tried again, moving to let him have a clearer view. "She's right here and they're taking care of her and you both." Vaguely he reached his hand across the space and Clay gave an exasperated groan. "Here," he muttered, lifting Mac's hand from her stomach and catching Harm's reaching hand, married the two. "Happy now?" he asked--unnecessarily as Harm's hand closed around hers, comforted by its warm and the feel of her pulse. "Thanks Clay." Within ten minutes the ambulance screeched to a halt at the clinic and four new medics arrived to lift down the stretchers. "Don't you take me away from her," Harm moaned, trying to tighten his hold of her hand. "Sorry sir, that's not your call," the first medic spoke up and gently parted their hands. "I have no clue what's happening here but I can assure you while we're sorting it out you both will be taken good care of. Here's my boss to confirm that." "Lieutenant Commander Kerry Lowe," she introduced herself and took a quick look at the information sheets the medic had prepared. "Looks like the Colonel there has a nasty infection. And you Commander, this is a gunshot wound. How did you manage that?" Harm looked around for Clay and his eyes rolled back into his head as the effort to stay conscious was too great. "Take care of them please," Clay begged and hurried away from Commander Lowe, not only not wanting to handle her questions but needing some time to process all that had happened. =============== Three Hours later "I'm glad I found you," Kerry's voice interrupted Clay's brooding on the deck of the clinic. He was staring into the dark water of the sea, questioning the wisdom of what they had undertaken at his urging. "You said your name was Clay?" "Yes ma'am," he nodded. "How are my friends?" "Commander Rabb is being transfused and I've given him a mild sedative to calm him so that he can get some rest which is the best healer. He was pretty agitated about the Colonel. He calls her Mac?" "Yes ma'am," Clay nodded again. "Sarah Mackenzie. They're uh. . . .pretty tight actually. She's worried about him too." "Well she would be if she were conscious maybe," Kerry said quietly. "Her wound is basically only a scratch but it certainly is infected badly. Like the knife was dirty and the infection is in her bloodstream already." "That doesn't sound good," he gasped, thinking at once of Harm's reaction. "It's not," Kerry told him quietly. "But twenty-four hours should tell the story. She's getting the best we've got by IV. You want to tell Mr. Rabb or should I?" "I'll do it," he sighed. "The least I can do. I'll go sit with him until he wakes up." It was another two hours before Harm stirred, his eyes opening slowly. "Mac?" The first word from his mouth, no surprise to Clay. "No, just me," Clay told him. "Mac's down the hall." "Let me see her," he murmured, starting to get up. "Harm you can't," Clay told him, restraining him with strong hands to his shoulders. "I can't. . .why the hell not?" he demanded, his voice choking. "Oh God she didn't. . .Clay she's not dead? Please don't let her be dead." "She's not dead," Clay said quickly. "She's just not doing real good." "Dammit Clay, what the hell does that mean?" Harm demanded. "It means they're doing everything they can for her, but the infection is pretty bad" Clay sighed. "The doctor said if she makes it through the next twenty-four hours, she should be okay." "No" Harm whispered. This wasn't how this was supposed to be. He should never have let her come with him. "Harm, don't give up on her yet. You know Mac." "She shouldn't have been here," Harm said quietly. "She should be back home in DC celebrating Christmas with Bud and Harriet. Not on some suicide mission with me to find my father." "Harm, she wasn't going to go without you.'' "No. I should have stopped her. I should have found some way to keep her from coming. I should have done anything besides let her come with us." "I'm just as much to blame for this as you are" Clay said quietly. "So if you're looking to lay the blame on someone, start here." For a moment Harm looked at him before shaking his head. "No Clay" he said finally. "I'm not going to blame you." "Harm, I'm really sorry about this. You have no idea how bad I feel about all this." "You didn't know things would turn out this way," Harm said quietly. "I did and I didn't listen." "You lost me Harm. What do you mean you did but you didn't listen?" "The night before we left I had a nightmare. It was a warning from my father. Telling me not to take Mac to Vietnam. Only I didn't know it was him until I had the same nightmare on the plane." "You're telling me your father warned you not to come?" "I don't know what I'm saying Clay, all I know is I knew something wasn't right and against my better judgment I let Mac come with me. And if she dies, the only person I can blame is myself." "Harm" Clay started. "I want to see her Clay" Harm said as he pushed himself to a sitting position. "Now." "Harm, you're hooked up to IV's and if you wait one second, I'll get the doctor and see if you can go see her." "My patient is ready to go already" Kerry smiled as she walked into Harm's room. "Commander, you're in no condition to go anywhere just yet." "Ma'am, I need to see Mac" Harm begged. "You don't understand." "I think I do Commander. And since it is Christmas, I guess I can make an exception in this case." "What time is it?" "01:00 hours local time" Kerry replied. "I'd wish you Merry Christmas but I don't think that's what you want to hear." "All I want to hear is that Mac is going to be okay," Harm said quietly. "Nothing else matters." "I can see that" she said as she looked at Clay. "I'll have the nurse come by and help you down to Colonel Mackenzie's room." "Thank you ma'am" Harm sighed. She nodded and walked out, leaving them alone again. "Harm, do you think you should call AJ and tell him what happened?" Clay said quietly. "Not yet. Not until we know if Mac is going to be okay." "Okay" Clay said slowly. "In the meantime, I'm going to see what I can do to find out what happened over there." "I'm going back Clay. I'm going to find your friend Nguyen and he better have some answer to why he set us up." "Harm, you don't know that's what happened" Clay sighed. "And you going over there is not something I would recommend at this juncture. Let me handle Nguyen." "No" Harm said firmly. "If he set us up, he's going to pay." "How do you plan on getting there?" Clay asked. "Steal a plane?" "I have a plane, I just need fuel" Harm countered. "You think the Navy's just going to refuel the plane for you without asking any questions. As it is, I'm sure we've got some explaining to do to someone." "So what are suggesting we do?" Harm sighed. "Let me make some calls. I have some friends I can call a few favors in on. I can probably get us a ride back to Vietnam and we'll both go find Nguyen." "As soon as I know Mac is going to be okay, we'll do it," Harm said quietly. "But I'm not leaving her until I know she's going to be okay." "Understood" Clay nodded. "I'll start making some calls." He walked out of the room, leaving Harm alone. Harm closed his eyes and leaned back against the pillows again, willing back the tears of frustration. It was Christmas and his best friend was fighting for her life because of him. "Please don't take her from me" he whispered quietly. "Not on Christmas." It was a long fifteen minutes before the nurse returned to get him. "This is against my better judgment Mr. Rabb. You should be resting. That wasn't soda pop that was running out of your body." "I'm fine. At least I will be as soon as I see Mac and know she's going to be OK.." "OK Commander, this way," she directed, assisting him into the wheelchair. She stopped outside Mac's door, walking around to look into Harm's eyes. "Sir, she's going to look a little startling since we have her on oxygen and monitors besides her IV antibiotic and fluids. "I can handle it," he assured her, but his reaction a moment later belied his words for he gasped and his hand went to his mouth. The vital healthy Marine who had begun the trip in no way resembled the pale still woman lying in that bed and at that moment he hated himself for bringing her. "I'll be fine thanks," he finally got out, unable to take his eyes from his best friend's still form. The nurse rolled him to the bedside and for along time he sat frozen. He wanted to take her hand and his arms refused to move. Finally he reached a hesitant hand toward hers and just as his fingers touched hers, her hand convulsed upward as if she was reaching for him. "Mac it's Harm," he whispered. "I'm here now." He swallowed a sob and squeezed her hand hard. "Listen now, you need to fight this. You need to be strong and fight. I'm going to stay right here with you and help you, but you need to fight. I'm not going to let you leave me. Not on Christmas. I won't lose you on Christmas too." Clay reached the doorway in time to hear those words, whispered though they were, they were carried in the silence. He slipped inside and walked up behind Harm, putting a friend's hand on his shoulder. "I've got transportation to Da Nang just a phone call away. Whenever we're ready." "How?" he choked, turning to look up to him. "Called in a huge favor that involved a Thai princess," he smiled softly. "I'm going to get some coffee. You?" "Nothing thanks," he shook his head. "Harm really you need. . ." Clay started, only to be interrupted by a wave of his hand. "If I try, it's not going to stay down," he sighed. "Please until I know she's going to be all right I just want to be left alone. In the meantime if it turns out to be that Nguyen betrayed us, I'm being sustained by the mental image of my hands around his throat." Clay squeezed his shoulder and left him alone. When the nurse returned to check on Mac later she looked at her chart, and to then to Harm. He had moved as close to the bed as he could and his fingers were linked with hers, her hand pressed to his cheek and his eyes closed as if in prayer. "Mr. Rabb I don't know what you're doing there, but keep it up. This is the best these readings have looked." "You think she might could be OK?" "Yeah I do," she smiled. "She's coming back." "You heard that Marine," Harm whispered again when they were alone. "You're doing better, but this is not the time to stop. I'm going to be nagging at you until you wake up and open those chocolate eyes for me and tell me you're fine. And tell me you don't hate me for bringing you here because right now I feel like pond scum." "You're. . .not pond scum." From somewhere in the distance he heard that as he dozed about two hours later. "Mac?" he murmured, not sure if he had been awake or dreaming the sound of her voice. "Mac?" "Not pond scum," she repeated, trying without success to get her eyes open. "Mac talk to me," he begged, leaning closely over her, stroking her cheek with the backs of his fingers on his free hand. "Mac please." It would be another two hours before she would respond to his pleadings. This time her eyes did slowly open. "Harm?" "Right here Marine" he said as he squeezed her hand. "You okay?" she whispered. "Doing a lot better than you," he said softly. "You know how to scare your partner to death don't you?" "Sorry" she sighed. She finally managed to focus on him long enough to see how exhausted he looked. "You look like hell sailor." "Well almost losing your best friends tends to do that to you" he whispered. "You have no idea how scared I was." "Didn't think you'd get rid of me that easily did you?" she said with a weak smile. "I was praying I wouldn't," he said softly. "Mac, I am so sorry about all this. I am pond scum for letting you get involved in this." "Stop that" she chided him. "You are not. And I didn't give you much choice." "Still, I should have known better" Harm sighed. "Colonel, glad to see you're back with us," Kerry said as she entered the room. "Looks like Mr. Rabb is getting his Christmas wish after all." Mac gave Harm a curious glance and he quickly avoided her gaze. "Yeah I guess I should wish you Merry Christmas" Harm said quietly, his gaze finally drifting back to her. "Though I'm sure you're wishing you were any where but here right now." "No way sailor" she said softly. "Commander, can I convince you to go back to your room and get some rest?" Kerry said gently. "Now that you know the Colonel is going to be okay." "Harm, you should" Mac prodded. "You look exhausted." "I'd rather stay here with Mac" Harm protested. "Really, I'm fine." "I'd feel better if you got some rest," Mac said softly. "Harm, you look awful. Please. For me." "All right" he sighed. "But just for a little bit and then I'm coming back." He pushed himself to his feet, and to her utter surprise, leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "What was that for?" she smiled. "Just glad to know my best friend is okay" Harm said sheepishly. He swayed slightly and Kerry immediately reached for him and helped him back into the wheelchair. " "You need to rest" Kerry said firmly. "I'll let you come back and see Mac later if you're both up to it." "I'm fine, I just got up too quickly" Harm replied. "Harm, I want you to rest" Mac pleaded before looking at Kerry. "Don't let him come back until he's better." "I won't" Kerry assured her with a smile. "Say goodbye to the Colonel, Commander." "Mac, you rest and get better, you hear," he said as he reached for her hand again. "I'll be back soon." "You do the same," she said with a weak smile. *************** 48 Hours Later "Harm, you sure about this?" Clay asked again. "Clay, I'm fine" Harm said with a long sigh. "And Lt. Cdr.. Lowe has assured me Mac is going to be okay. She won't be going anywhere for a few more days which is why this is the perfect time for us to go." "You're not going to tell her you're going are you?" Clay said quietly. "No. She's still sleeping and I see no reason to wake her and tell her where we're going." "Harm, you don't think she's going to miss you? Come on. She'll be driving them nuts asking about you." "Exactly why we didn't tell anyone where we're going" Harm sighed. "Give me five to say goodbye to her and I'll be ready to go." Minutes later he quietly walked into Mac's room, relieved to see she was still in fact asleep. He hadn't wanted to tell her that he was going after the man he felt was responsible for what had happened, knowing it would just upset her. "Hey partner," he whispered, lightly touching the back of her hand with his fingertips. "I'll see you real soon." Carefully he propped the note he had written up against her water glass on the bedside table and turned to go. He made only three steps before he stopped and turned back, not able to resist kissing her forehead. With a long sign he joined Clay at the front door, shaking his head in response to his friend's questioning look. "Don't want to talk now," he murmured. Harm in fact remained silent through the drive to the airfield and it was halfway into the flight before he spoke. "I'm not sure if I said thanks," he sighed. "And I want you to know I don't blame you for anything that's happened. Not even with Mac." Clay looked up from his reading to grin slightly. "Hey I didn't think you did. I figured you were shouldering all that yourself." "You got that right," he sighed again. "If she had died. . ." His voice trailed off and he looked at Clay, simply shaking his head. "If she had died without you having told her how you feel maybe," Clay finished for him. "Clay I don't think. . .well to be honest, we tried at one point to bring those feelings out," he admitted. "After my crash. But it just kept getting all tangled up and we were lucky to come out as friends. I'm not sure we can risk going back to trying." "I guess I understand," he shrugged. "But answer me this and then I'll drop it. Do you love her?" "Of course I do," Harm nodded soberly. "And I'm sure she loves me. We just don't know what to do about it." "So the answer is to do nothing?" "Yeah it is," he snapped. "To protect what we've finally recovered. It's not perfect but it's better than what we've had and I'll take it." "OK--OK," Clay smiled and held up his hand. "Closed subject." "Thank you. Now what's going to happen when we land?" "I've sent word to Nguyen that I'm here and where to meet and that I expect him to be there," Clay nodded firmly. "The man is not in the employ of the agency to allow things to get that messed up." "You didn't tell me that," Harm pointed out quietly. "Webb there's probably a lot I haven't been told." "Need to know," he smiled. "And it's healthier that way besides." ============== MEDICAL FACILITY Diego Garcia "Harm?" Mac heard noise beside her and pushed herself to waken. "Harm?" "Sorry sweetie, it's just me Melody," an older woman said softly. "Just checking on you. You're going to be sprung tomorrow they tell me. Now who-or what-is Harm?" "Partner. . .friend," she murmured. "Ah OK. He's a legend in this corridor," Melody smiled. "He hasn't left you except to sleep, and then very little of that." "Yeah I know," Mac sighed. "Friend." "Honey that man is a lot more than that," Melody snorted and her eyes fell on the envelope. "In fact likely this is from him since he's not here." "Where did he go?" she demanded in sudden fear. "Is Mr. Webb here?" "Can't help you. Just rest. I'm sure they'll both be back to see you. That man isn't going to be far from your life." Mac nodded and opened the envelope, willing back the sudden tears as she read. >Just taking care of a little business here Marine, and then I'll be taking you home. Again, you've come farther than anyone I know would have. Except for Webb and he's too dumb to know he shouldn't be involved. I've never forgotten Russia and I won't this either, but from here on out this is my problem. I almost lost you for good, and I won't take that chance again. I'm going to see that you get home and anything else that comes up about this is going to be up to me--and me alone--to handle. H.< "That's what you think you stubborn jackass of a sailor," she muttered, crumpling the paper and throwing it across the room. "Well I can be just as stubborn." Despite her attempts to keep them back, a few lonely tears slid down her face. "Colonel, you okay?" Kerry Lowe asked as she walked into Mac's room. "Are you feeling okay?" "I'm fine" Mac sighed, angrily brushing away the tears. "It's a certain Commander who's going to be in trouble when this marine gets her hands on him." "I figured that might be the case," Kerry said with a smile. "Wherever, he went, I'm sure he'll be back soon." "He didn't tell anyone where he was going did he?" "No ma'am" Kerry said sympathetically. "Is there anything I can do?" "Not unless you can get me out of here sooner" Mac sighed. ******************* Da Nang "Let me do the talking" Clay warned as the plane started its descent. "I know you want answers, but this is my show." "Damn right I want answers," Harm said irritably. "Someone sold us out Clay and I want to know who it was." "So do I. But a little diplomacy will go a long ways" Clay reminded him. "Yeah fine, but if I don't start hearing the answers I want, I'll be asking the questions" Harm retorted. "In case you forgot, Mac almost died because someone set us up." "No, I haven't forgotten that" Clay sighed. "But just trust me on this please." Minutes later the plane came to a halt on the small airstrip and Clay and Harm carefully made their way off. "Okay, where's this Nguyen?" Harm asked as he looked around the deserted area. "I thought you said he was meeting us here." "Patience Rabb" Clay said as he pointed to the car making its way towards them. "Yeah and how do we know that's him and not someone coming to finish the job," Harm said quietly. "We don't" Clay admitted. The large sedan pulled up and Harm waited anxiously as the door opened. "Nice to see you Webb" the man said as he stepped out. "I'm not sure I can say the same for you Nguyen" Clay replied. "Webb, you know I wasn't responsible for what happened. I would never have set you up like that." "You want to tell me what happened?" "I don't know" Nguyen admitted. "All I know is two of my guys were killed. The driver who picked you up was not one of mine. Neither was the pilot." "Who did they belong too?" Harm spoke up finally. "Who wanted us dead?" "The men who don't want you to find the truth about your father" Nguyen replied. "What is the truth?" Harm asked quietly. "Is he alive? Is he still here?" "You have many questions Commander, and I am sorry but I do not have all the answers to those questions. I do not know who is working against us. And I do not know what the truth is concerning your father. I have as many questions as you do about the story that he was sent to Russia." "You don't believe that was the case do you?" "No, Commander, I don't. As I'm sure Mr. Webb has told you, we work by gut instincts in this business. And my gut tells me that the stories you were feed about Russia were just that. Stories." "You think that's who doesn't want us to find the truth?" Clay finally spoke up. "Most likely" Nguyen nodded. "If he wasn't sent to Russia, do you really think he's alive here somewhere?" Harm asked. "And if he is why, wouldn't he have come home?" Before Nguyen could reply, the sound of gunfire shattered the quiet. "Down" Clay yelled, grabbing Harm's arm and yanking him behind the car. Before Nguyen could do the same, a shot hit him in the chest, and he sank to the ground. "Get him in the car" Clay ordered and Harm grabbed Nguyen and pushed him into the back seat of the car, dropping in behind. "Clay get in" Harm yelled and as the windshield shattered behind them, Clay jumped into the car. "Get us out of here" Clay ordered the driver, who quickly hit the gas petal. The car sped forward, another bullet shattering one of the side windows as the barrage of gunfire continued. "For godsake stay down" Clay yelled as Harm stuck his head up to see what was going on. "I'm not explaining to the Marine why you got shot again." "Clay what the hell is going on?" He gasped, staring at the gunmen who had now taken a stance in the road firing at the fleeing car. "What's going on is that you're going to get yourself killed," Clay sputtered, forcefully pulling him down below the windows, heedless of the dying man on the seat. "Kao take us away from here fast. I don't care where, just get us out of here," he ordered and turned his attention to Nguyen, seeing Harm strip his shirt to try to stop the bleeding. "Nguyen, tell us--tell us what else you know," Harm urged. "What evidence is there that my father was not taken to Russia. More important that he may be alive?" Nguyen gave a moan of pain and Harm and Clay looked to each other. The man was dying before their eyes. "Nguyen please," Clay whispered. "There is a CDRom with names and. . ." Nguyen tried, only to close his eyes. "Nguyen no," Harm gasped, giving him a slight shake and breathing a sigh of relief when he opened his eyes. "Some prisoners destined for Russia never made it out of Vietnam because of harsh treatment," he breathed, a gasp of pain between each word. "Some were kept here as being more valuable to the North. Russians were paying for each one. There was much deceit and forgery of. . ." His eyes glazed over and he was still. "Nguyen no," Harm shouted, shaking him once more. "Harm back off," Clay ordered, pressing his hand to the man's forehead to close his eyes. "He's gone." "He knew more," Harm said brokenly. "He knew more or where to find out more and they killed him." "They would have killed us too," Clay pointed out. "Whoever this is has no way to know what we know and what we don't or even if we have this CD, which by the way they were looking for in Tokyo if you remember." Harm's mouth fell open. "Mac. Oh god Clay at the hospital. She could be in danger and we're . . ." "Harm she's in a military hospital. Nothing is going to happen to her there," Clay soothed. "Right now we have bigger problems--like getting back to the airfield and getting out of here." He leaned forward to speak to Kao and Harm collapsed back on the seat as best he could with Nguyen's body. "OK, Kao knows a back route back to Da Nang," he reported. "And we left word to fuel the plane so it should be ready to leave when we are." "Mac," he responded, the word coming in a hoarse croak. "If you're worried, call them and ask if they can have her room watched," Clay told him reasonably. Harm nodded and made the call, and then made himself very small on the edge of the seat, saying nothing further. His silence continued through the drive back. When the car stopped at the airfield he exited without a word to Clay and ran headlong across the fields to the beach and the water beyond. Somewhere out there the Gulf of Tonkin merged with the South China. Somewhere out there his dad had known his last minutes of flight. And somewhere in this land of Southeast Asia were his answers. Answers he thought at one time he had that were now all questions again. He knelt by the water, letting it lap at his knees, and he took his troubles to his Lord. From behind Clay sensed what he was doing and remained a respectful distance until he got back to his feet. "Whenever you're ready," Clay called softly,finally approaching him to press a firm hand to his shoulder. Harm merely nodded and allowed Clay to lead him to the plane, where his silence continued. "I need to see Mac," were the first words he spoke as the plane came to a halt. "Harm you look like hell and you're going to scare her to death," Clay advised him gently. "Shower, clean clothes, maybe a shave?" "Yeah OK," he admitted, looking down at his dirty and bloodied clothes. "Clay this is not over, not by any stretch of the imagination. I have to know what happened." "I know," Clay nodded. "I know and I'm going to help you. And you know Mac. . ." "Mac's role is over," Harm told him harshly. "I'll accept your help because I need you. I hate that I do, but I do and I'll owe you for the rest of my life. But her--no, no way. I'm not going to watch her die in my cause." With that he leaped from the plane and disappeared into the night. ======== INFIRMARY 1 Hour Later. "Hi Mac. You're looking good," Clay called from the doorway. "Where's Harm?" "Clay thank god," she gasped, pushing herself from her bed. "I've been worried to. . .what the hell are you talking about--where's Harm? I haven't seen him. Why isn't he with you?" Her eyes widened with concern. "Clay talk to me." "He didn't come see you?" Clay asked and Mac shook her head. "Clay what happened?" she demanded. "We went back to Da Nang to meet Nguyen" Clay said quietly. "We got a little information from him before he was killed." "Killed" Mac whispered. "Oh god, is Harm okay?" "He wasn't hurt Mac" Clay quickly assured her. "Well at least not physically. But Nguyen told him enough that he's now more determined than ever to find his father. Without your help." "That's not going to happen Clay" Mac whispered. "I'm not letting him go through this alone. I know how much this has to be tearing him up inside." "It is" Clay nodded. "After Nguyen was killed, we had to backtrack back to the plane and when we got back he took off for a while. I found him at the edge of the water. I'm betting he's somewhere on the island doing the same thing again." "I have to find him" Mac said quietly. "Mac, he could be anywhere on the island" Clay sighed. "At least let me stay with you until we find him. If anything happened to you because you were out looking for him he'd lose it." "That's why he doesn't want me involved isn't it? "Mac, he cares about you a lot" Clay said slowly, careful to avoid the word love. "It would destroy him if something happened to you because of his search for his father." "And how does he think I would feel if something happened to him?" Mac snapped as they walked out of the room. "Obviously these people are serious about keeping him from finding the truth." "Yes they are" Clay said quietly. "They'll do whatever it takes. Including killing anyone who gets in their way." "Clay you are not making me feel any better" Mac sighed. They finally located Harm on a quiet stretch of the beach, sitting in the sand and staring out at the vast ocean. "I'll give you two some time alone" Clay said softly. "I'll be over here if you need me." "Thanks Clay" Mac whispered. She slowly walked over to where Harm sat, stopping when she reached him. "This seat taken?" she asked softly. He didn't answer her, keeping his face forward. With a sigh she sat down beside him. "You shouldn't be out of bed" he said finally, the emotion in his voice very evident. She finally got a look at his face, seeing at once the redness in his eyes from the tears that now stained his face. "I was worried about you" she said softly, willing her own tears back. It hurt her to see him this way. And to know there was nothing she could do to make that hurt go away. "Yeah well I'm worried about you and I know you shouldn't be out here" he countered. "Two days ago I didn't even know if you were going to live." "Harm, I'm okay now" she soothed. "I'm not going to die." "You almost did" he whispered. "And I will never forget that. How my obsession almost cost you your life." "Harm, don't" she whispered. "Please don't do this to yourself." "You shouldn't be here" he repeated. "Why did you come out here?" "You didn't come back with Clay and I wanted to make sure you were okay. He told me what happened in Da Nang." "I'm not sure I'll ever be okay" he whispered, his voice breaking with emotion. The events of the past few days finally caught up with him and with a small sob he buried his head in his hands. She didn't say a word as she slowly gathered him close to her, bring his head to her chest while she gently stroked his back. There was nothing she could say. All she could do was be there for him and hold him. How long they stayed like that neither knew but finally Harm raised his head from her chest. "You need to go back to the infirmary" he said quietly. "You need to rest." "Right now I'm a little more worried about you" she said gently. "I'll be all right. And I'll never forget you coming here with me. But I'm doing the rest of this alone Mac." "Harm, no" she pleaded. "Clay told me about these people. How dangerous they are." "Exactly why I don't want you involved anymore" Harm snapped. "Dammit, Mac almost losing you once was enough for me. I won't let it happen again." Mac bit her lower lip and looked away, at the same time her resolve stiffened. She was not going to let him hoe this row alone, but now was not the time to argue. Now was the time to comfort, and for them to lick their wounds. "I won't risk losing you again," he said more quietly a moment later, drawing her back into his embrace. "We got really lucky this time. Next time I may be visiting your grave and if that happens---if I cause your death--they may as well put me in the ground next to you." "Harm please," she tried, feeling her cheeks dampen with fresh tears at his unaccustomed emotionalism toward her. "OK, let's let it all settle before we talk about it again." "Oh it's going to settle all right," he vowed. "So far down you'll never see it again. As far as you're concerned it's a closed issue." She opened her mouth to object and as soon as she saw the firm set of his jaw knew better. Instead she simply pressed a wet cheek to his, receiving wetness in return. For a long time they simply remained as that, until Clay strode over to them. "Guys I hate to break this up---whatever you're doing---but if we move, we can be on a stateside flight in three hours." "You want?," Harm asked, lifting her head to let his eyes find hers. "Yeah I do," she nodded. "If you're ready." "More than," he affirmed. "Clay get us the hell out of here." It took twenty-four hours to accomplish, but a very tired Mac and Harm were delivered to D.C. and Harm ordered the cab to Georgetown, wanting her to go home first. "Harm I want you to come up with me," she insisted. "I don't think you're ready to be alone, and I know I'm not." "Look, we haven't mentioned my dad for twenty-four hours, and I've liked it that way, so if this is a ploy to get me to talk about it, or to get me to agree that I'll include you, you can forget it. I was never more serious about how this is now my problem and mine alone." "Harm I know all that," she smiled softly, reaching up to push an errant lock of hair off his forehead. "Right now all I want from you is your company. I need to know you're OK, and if you're going to go home and worry if I am, well that's not good either. You're exhausted Harm. Does a bullet to the arm, extensive blood loss, ring a bell?" "You're right. I don't want to leave you alone, and I am exhausted, as are you," he said slowly. "Long as we keep to our agreement not to discuss my dad-- specifically as relates to what I'm going to do for the future, I would very much like to be with you." "Agreed," she smiled wanly. "I'll make coffee, and I think we can order some food, put on a movie and just veg." "Done." Wednesday, January 9th, 2002 Dulles International Airport 9:00 PM EST With a long sigh, Harm headed for the bank of phones. He had just a few minutes before his flight would leave and he needed to make two calls. One to his CO explaining why he wouldn't be in for the next two days. The second one to his best friend, explaining why he was ditching her. "Mac, it's Harm" he said quietly when her voice mail at JAG picked up. "I know you're going to be furious with me for doing this but I was serious when I told you I didn't want you involved in this anymore. I'm off to take care of some business, and hopefully get some more answers to what really happened to my father. And because I care about you so much, I don't want you involved anymore. I promise I'll call when I can, and please don't worry." He hung up and waited a second before dialing the number to JAG again, this time dialing AJ's extension. "Sir, its Harm. Something has come up and I need to take some personal leave for the next few days. I'm sorry for the short notice and I hope you'll understand why I had to do this." He hung as the call for finally boarding was made and he grabbed his lone carryon bag and started towards the gate. **************************** JAG HQ's Next Morning "Colonel, can I see you please?" AJ said as Mac stepped off the elevator. "Yes sir, is something wrong?" Mac asked as she followed him back to his office. "Nothing besides a voice mail from your partner saying he was taking the next few days off" AJ replied. "Do you know anything about this?" "No sir" Mac said quickly. "Did he say why?" "He just said something had come up that he needed to take care of" AJ sighed. "I'm assuming this has to do with your recent trek to Vietnam." "Sir, I honestly don't know" Mac said as she dropped into the chair in front of his desk. "We haven't really talked about anything since we got back. Harm was real upset about everything and I didn't want to push the issue with him. I had no idea he was planning on doing something like this though." "Any idea where he might have gone?" "I'll call Clay and see if he knows anything" Mac replied. "I just hope he didn't go back to Vietnam alone." "Mac, what happened over there? I didn't press either of you for information when you got back last week but now I'm thinking I should have." "Sir, a lot happened" Mac sighed. "I don't want to go into too many details right now but it all boils down to Harm believes his father may still be alive over there somewhere and he determined to find him. Despite the fact that someone is trying to stop him from finding the truth." "And so you think he may have gone back on his own?" "I hope not," Mac said quietly. "But I do want to call Clay and see if Harm told him anything." "Do that and let me know what you find out" AJ replied. Mac nodded and hurried to her desk, noticing at once that the message light was blinking. She dialed her code for voice mail and seconds later bit back the tears as she listened to Harm's message. "Damn you Harmon Rabb" she whispered. "Don't you know how much I care about you too?" Without deleting the message she hung up and quickly dialed Clay's number. "Webb" "You're there," Mac said quietly. "Then you're obviously not with Harm." "Mac, what happened?" "Harm left" she sighed as she sank into her chair. "He left me and the Admiral voice mails saying he needed to take care of something important. Course he didn't say where he was going." "You think he may have gone back to Vietnam?" Clay said quietly. "I'm praying he didn't, but you know Harm." "I'll see what I can find out" Clay promised. "In the meantime, try not to worry too much." "Clay, how the hell am I supposed to not worry?" Mac snapped. "These people would sooner kill him than let him find out the truth about his father. The fact that he's alone over there does nothing to make me feel any better." "I know and I'm sorry" Clay said gently. "Sorry I ever got him mixed up in this. I'll see what I can find out and then I'll call you back. I promise." "Thanks Clay. I'm sorry for snapping at you but I'm really worried about him Clay. He didn't talk about his father the whole time we've been back. I just know he plans on handling this himself and if he does, he's going to get himself killed." "I won't let that happen" Clay promised. "We'll find him and then we'll both knock some sense into him." ****************** JAG HQ's 24 Hours Later "Mac, I'm sorry," Clay said softly. "I've called all the people I know over there. There's no sign of him." "Dammit Clay, he has to be somewhere" Mac wailed, willing back the tears. "He can't just disappear." Before Clay could reply, Tiner came bursting through the door. "Ma'am, there's a nurse on the phone. She's looking for the next of kin for Commander Rabb." The End.