TITLE:  “Past Present Future XI-Captive Hearts”
AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
SUMMARY:  The eleventh 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, as well as much of our 
previous efforts, will 
be available to registered Yahoo users at:  
                     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories
              No subbing is required to read from the message archives.
       
           Also, previous chapters, as well as our other efforts, 
should be available at:
          http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/
                        or the
       Harm-Mac shipper archive at-               
http://hmarchive.topcities.com/index2.html  [sadly, not always up and 
running]


Note:  For purposes of this story, the events of any episode after 
Adrift do not play 
a part.


Previously in the PPF series:   On a temporary hiatus from the search 
for Sergei 
and the truth about Harm Sr., Harm and Mac are investigating a man up 
for an 
important position.  A man who wants that position at any cost.

The close of PPF Chapter X-On Dangerous Ground--
Before either of them could reply, McNamara's phone rang and he gave 
them a 
 quick smile before reaching for the cordless phone.
 
 "Excuse me please" he said as he stood up a second later. "I need to 
take 
 this. Shouldn't be but a few minutes."
 
 "No problem" Mac murmured as he walked out.
 
 "Hope this doesn’t take long" Harm sighed, suddenly feeling tired. He 
 chalked it up to too much in one day when he still wasn't back to 
normal and 
 he took another sip of tea hoping the caffeine would help.
 
 "You okay?" Mac asked as she looked over at him.
 
 "Yeah, just suddenly real tired" he admitted, an overwhelming urge to 
want 
 to sleep taking over him.
 
 "Me too" she said vaguely, noticing the same feeling. "Harm, you don't 
 think…" Her voice trailed off as she realized that he was no longer 
awake. 
 She pushed herself from the chair, someone how managing to stumble 
over to 
 him. "Harm" she said as she shook his arm. "Harm, wake up."
 
 Her attempts to rouse him failed and she forced herself to her feet, 
 determined to find out what was going on. She got only as far as the 
door, 
 the last conscious memory being McNamara's grin as she fell into his 
waiting 
 arms.
*************************
  
“Past Present Future XI-Captive Hearts"

 He hurt everywhere.  Especially his stomach and his ribs.  And his 
head.  And why 
was it so dark?  And most important, where was. . . . "Mac?"  The word 
croaked 
from his throat, through lips so dry they seemed to be glued together.  
Harm sat up 
slowly, holding his pounding head between his hands.  The beating was 
in time 
with his heartbeat and with each thump the pain seemed to increase.  
"Mac?"  This 
time the word came with more force and he began to feel around him.  In 
short 
order he found he was sprawled on a stone cold floor.  "Mac for godsake 
where are 
you," he gasped with as much strength as he could muster.
 
 To his infinite relief a low moan answered his plea.  "Mac I hear 
you," he called.  
"I'm here.  Tell me where you are."
 
 "Hurts," she whimpered and a bolt of fear went through him.  
 
 "Mac honey keep talking to me.  I can't see a foot in front of me."
 
 "I'm here.  I can't move."
 
 "Why the hell not?" he gasped, immediately starting for the sound of 
her voice.  
"Mac why can't you move?"  
 
 "I'm not sure.  I just hurt."
 
 He crawled across the floor toward her voice, and a few seconds later 
was 
rewarded with the feel of her pliant body.
 
 "Harm," she breathed and immediately melded herself to him, offering 
no 
resistance to his gathering arms.  "Where are we?  What happened to us?  
Why do 
I feel like I've been on a five-day drunk?"
 
 "I don't know," he answered, adding a groan of pain as she shifted 
against him.
 
 "Harm what is it?  You're hurting?"
 
 "Just the ribs kicking up.  I must have banged them when we. . .where 
the hell are 
we anyway?  What's the last thing you remember?"
 
 "Uh. . .talking to the General and then sleepy--being so sleepy.  And 
watching you 
. . .Harm we both passed out somehow."  She moved again, mindful of his 
ribs.  
"General McNamara. . .he must have caused this."
 
 "Afraid of what we were going to say," he sighed in agreement.  
"Afraid of our 
testimony."
 
 "If he thinks he can get away with keeping us here he must be really 
losing it," she 
whispered.  "He has to know we'll be missed.   The Admiral knows where 
we were 
going."
 
 She trembled slightly and he held her to him, ignoring the protest 
from his ribs.  
"We'll be fine.  This guy is insane but he's not going to hurt us.  I 
won't let him."
 
 "He's . . ." she began only to push hard away from him.  "Sick," she 
gasped and 
bent over, losing the contents of her stomach.  
 
 "Easy honey," he soothed, reaching again for her and rubbing her back.  
 
 "I'm OK."  She straightened slowly, glad that he could not see the 
tears on her 
cheeks.  "I'm also a little scared, and not ashamed to admit it."
 
 "I'm more than a little," he smiled, returning her to the shelter of 
his arms and for 
the next several minutes simply held and rocked her.  "Think we can 
stand and 
maybe feel our way to see where we are?  And maybe even how to get out 
of 
here?"
 
 In response she began to struggle to her feet, with him following her 
up, still 
clinging together.  He wrapped one arm around her, the other he held 
out in front of 
him and began to move forward, striking solid wall after several steps.  
"OK now 
let's see if we can follow it."  He felt his way along the wall, and in 
short order they 
knew they were in a small room.  "Steps," he gasped as he stubbed his 
toe.  
Feeling carefully for the first one, he tightened his hold on her by 
feel and count, 
managed the fourteen steps.  "Door," he reported, feeling for the knob, 
knowing 
before he tried that it would be bolted shut.  "Dammit," he swore and 
before she 
could stop him, he had stepped back and slammed his shoulder into it.  
The 
resultant groan of pain echoed through the small room as his ribs again 
protested 
the onslaught.  
 
 "Harm stop," she wailed.  "We're locked in.  This man is dangerously 
insane.  He's 
meaning to keep us here."
 
 "I just hope that's all he's planning to do to us," he panted, still 
seeing stars from 
the pain.
  
 "Well there's nothing we can do about it right now" Mac sighed. "So we 
might 
 as well get comfortable."
 
 "You're right," he said as he carefully reached for her arm. 
"Remember, 
 fourteen steps down."
 
 Together they navigated their way back to the bottom of the steps, 
finally 
 reach solid ground again. Mac gently helped Harm to the ground, before 
 settling down beside him.
 
 "Any idea what time it is?" Harm asked.
 
 "06:25 hours. The Admiral will be missing us soon. As will Bobbi 
Latham."
 
 "Unless McNamara has something else up his sleeve" Harm sighed.
 
 As he spoke the door at the top of the stairs opened and the beam from 
the 
 flashlight came down upon them.
 
 "Well looks who's awake" McNamara laughed as he stood at the top of 
the 
 stairs.
 
 At once Harm tightened his grip around Mac, not sure what McNamara's 
plans 
 were. At the same time, she gave him a gentle nudge, realizing this 
might be 
 their chance to escape. But as McNamara neared, her eyes grew wide as 
she 
 saw the gun in his hand.
 
 "What the hell do you think you're doing McNamara?" Harm demanded, 
seeing 
 the gun and pulling Mac even closer.
 
 "Seeing what you two are made of" McNamara grinned. "We're going to 
have a 
 little fun soon. But first I have a senate hearing to go to."
 
 "We're expected to be there" Mac spoke up.
 
 "Yes you were. But see when the State Highway finds your burned out 
car at 
 the bottom of the ravine, they won't be expecting you anymore" 
McNamara 
 laughed.
 
 "You don’t think they'll notice there's no bodies" Harm scoffed.
 
 "No bodies to find after the inferno I created. The only thing they're 
going 
 to find is the dog tags belonging to Commander Harmon Rabb and Colonel 
Sarah 
 Mackenzie."
 
 They both raised their hands to their neck and realized that McNamara 
had 
 obviously taken them when he'd had them out. A quick check of her 
finger 
 told her he'd also taken their rings.
 
 "You really thing they're going to buy that" Harm said coldly. "That 
we're 
 both dead."
 
 "Of course they will. They have no reason not to."
 
 "Then what are you going to do with us?" Mac demanded.
 
 "I told you we're going to have a little fun" McNamara smirked. "I 
could 
 simply just kill both of you right now and dump your bodies somewhere 
no 
 would ever find them. But that's too easy. And not nearly as much fun 
as 
 what I have in mind. And in a little while you'll find out what that 
is." 
 With a laugh he slowly backed up the stairs, leaving his gun on them 
as he 
 did.
 
 "You can't leave us down here" Harm yelled.
 
 "What's wrong Commander? A little too cold for you down here. Sorry, 
but 
 this is the best I can offer right now. You'll get used to it."
 He reached the top of the stairs and seconds later they were plunged 
back 
 into darkness as the door was slammed shut and bolted into place.
 
 "Harm, he's going to kill us" Mac whispered.
 
 "Not yet he isn't" Harm sighed. "And if that was all he wanted to do, 
we'd 
 be dead already. He has some sick scheme in his head and we're just 
going to 
 have to wait and see what it is."
 
 "You don't think they'll believe we're dead do you?"
 
 "I hope not," he said as he pulled her closer, trying to keep them 
both 
 warm. "But I guess it depends on how well he set it up. Having our 
rings and 
 dogtags there is going to help with convincing them though."
 
 "We have to figure a way out of this" Mac said softly. "Next time he 
comes 
 down"
 
 "You'll do nothing" Harm interrupted. "He's not going to come down 
here 
 without a weapon and I don't doubt he'd used it if he had to. So don't 
even 
 think about it. I am not going to lose you to this psycho. We'll play 
along 
 with him for now and wait to see what his little game is."
 
 "What if it's locking us down here until we starve to death" she 
sighed.
 
 "That's not his speed. He's got something else in mind. I just don't 
know 
 what it is."
 
 "I hope you're right" she said softly, closing her eyes as she leaned 
her 
 head against his shoulder.
 
 "Me too" he whispered as he kissed her hair. "Me too."
 
 ************************
 JAG HQ's
 09:30 AM EST
 
 "Sir, I have Congresswoman Latham's office on the line" Tiner said as 
AJ 
 strolled back to his office. "Apparently Commander Rabb and Colonel 
 Mackenzie haven't shown up for the hearing on General McNamara yet."
 
 "What the hell time where they supposed to be there?" AJ asked.
 
 "About an hour ago sir. You want me to try calling them while you take 
the 
 call."
 
 "Please" AJ said as headed into his office to take the call.
 
 He returned minutes later, hovering over Tiner's desk as Tiner called 
their 
 cell phones.
 
 "No answer anywhere sir" Tiner said as he hung up. "You don't think 
anything 
 happened to them do you?"
 
 "No of course not" AJ said quickly. "I know they were going to go see 
 General McNamara yesterday."

 "That lousy bastard should be sent to Leavenworth instead of 
promoted."
 
 Both men whirled around at the sound of Clayton Webb's voice.
 
 "Webb, what are you doing here?" AJ asked.
 
 "Came to talk to Harm and Mac about the good General. I heard they 
were 
 following up on some accusations against him. Thought I might be able 
to 
 offer them some help."
 
 "Well they're currently MIA" AJ sighed. "They went out to talk to 
McNamara 
 yesterday and this morning they didn't show up at the hearing."
 
 AJ's phone rang again and Tiner quickly pushed the button and handed 
it to 
 him.
 
 "Admiral Chegwidden."
 
 "Admiral, this is Sgt. Davies of the Maryland State Police.  Do you 
know a Colonel 
Sarah Mackenzie?"

AJ felt his heart palpitate and he took a long breath, grabbing onto 
the edge of the 
desk and looking helplessly toward Clay before he spoke.  

"I do.  She works for me."

"Commander Harmon Rabb?"

"The same.  Sergeant just tell me," AJ ordered.

"You may want to come to the scene here," Davies said slowly.  "There's 
been an 
accident involving them."

"What kind of accident?  Are they hurt?" AJ demanded sharply, steeling 
himself for 
the worst as Clay stepped forward, himself pale and halfway shaky.

"All I've got right now is a burned out vehicle that the computer 
managed to trace to 
MDW and then on to JAG.  Well there's more but let's wait until you get 
here shall 
we."

"On my way, please give my yeoman directions."  AJ thrust the phone at 
Tiner and 
turned to Clay.  "I'm not sure what's going on here.  They were going 
down into 
Southern Maryland to see McNamara and must have had some kind of 
accident.  
I'm going out there.  You want to come?"

"You damn right I do," Clay breathed, trying to hold himself together 
while AJ pulled 
on his coat.  "AJ, this guy--this McNamara.  He's bad news."

"We have no proof he had anything to do with this--this whatever 
happened," AJ 
muttered.  "You drive?"
====================
About that same time McNamara again opened the door to their cellar 
prison and 
this time flipped on the light.  The bare bulb blinded them both and he 
pressed her 
head into his chest, protecting her eyes.  "Come on up here you two," 
he ordered, 
"and be sure you take note of what I'm holding.  Double-aught shotgun.  
The mess 
it would make at close range--wow."

"We won't give you any reason to use it," Harm told him hastily, 
pushing Mac 
behind him as he led her up the stairs.  "Maybe you could give us some 
idea what 
you're going to do with us.  Because if you're planning to kill us. . "

"Commander just be at ease," McNamara ordered.  "Right now I'm going to 
feed 
you and let you get some decent rest."

"Huh?" Harm frowned and looked back at Mac who shrugged 
uncomprehendingly.  
Once they were at the top of the stairs, McNamara stepped aside and 
motioned 
them with the shotgun.  "Up the side steps of the garage over there.  
Neither better 
get any ideas about running.  I can plink a rabbit at fifty feet."

"We're not going to give you any trouble," Harm repeated, still keeping 
Mac close 
to him.

"Glad to hear that.  I plan to give you plenty, but not today.  Today 
is a day of rest 
and planning.  Get on up there."

Harm tightened his hold of her and mounted the steps.  At McNamara's 
gesture he 
opened the door above the garage to a studio apartment, normal in every 
way 
except for the boards on the outsides of the windows.  "You'll find 
food and water, 
aspirin, some clean clothes, even a shower," McNamara told them with a 
sly smile.  
"For the next twenty four hours you are as my guests.  You simply can't 
leave."  

As soon as they were inside, he closed the lone door and threw shut a 
heavy bolt 
on the outside, locking them in as surely as if it was a jail cell.

"Harm this man is insane," Mac gasped as soon as they were alone.

"Yes he is," he nodded, "and that's going to work in our favor at some 
point.  But 
right now I smell coffee and there's food and my head is screaming for 
aspirin."

"What if this is drugged too?"

"What would be the point?  He could have simply left us in that root 
cellar.  Come 
on you need to eat.  We're going to make a move at some point and we'll 
be better 
for being fed."
================
ENROUTE

"Clay you OK?" AJ asked.  "You're pretty pale there."

Clay was staring straight ahead through the windshield and had not 
spoken since 
they had left D.C. behind.

"Yeah.  I'm just kind of. . .AJ since the whole thing with Harm's dad 
I've gotten kind 
of close to them.  They're friends AJ, something that I've not had a 
lot of over the 
years."

  "Yeah I know" AJ sighed. "But there's no reason to suspect the 
worst."
  
  "Why didn't the Sgt. tell you what happened then?" Clay countered. 
"If it 
  wasn't that bad he would have told you."
  
  "Thank you for that reminder. I was trying to convince myself 
otherwise."
  
  Silence settled over the car again and remained that way until they 
arrived 
  at the State Highway post they'd been directed to. The remains of a 
burned 
  out vehicle greeted them in the parking lot and both men swallowed 
hard as 
  they climbed out of the car.
  
  "You must be Admiral Chegwidden," one of the officers said as he 
approached 
  them. "I'm Sgt. Davies."
  
  "AJ Chegwidden" AJ said as he glanced over at the car. "This is 
Clayton 
  Webb. He's friends of the Commander and Colonel."
  
  "Then I'm even more sorry," Sgt. Davies said quietly. "What you see 
over 
  there is all was left of the vehicle they were apparently in. From 
what we 
  can tell, they somehow went off the road, down a steep embankment and 
  landing at the bottom. The car likely exploded on impact."
  
  It took a moment for both men to digest what they'd been told, Clay 
the 
  first to finally find his voice.
  
  "So you're saying their both dead?" Clay managed.
  
  "I'm sorry," Sgt. Davies said quietly.
  
  "Are you sure it's them?" AJ spoke up, hoping beyond hope that there 
was 
  some mistake. "Have the bodies been positively identified?"
  
  "Unfortunately there were no bodies to identify" Sgt. Davies 
continued and 
  Clay turned even whiter at his words. "I'm sorry. Maybe we should 
take this 
  inside."
  
  "Please" AJ said as he reached out an arm for Clay. "You okay?"
  
  Clay nodded but said nothing else as he followed the two men inside 
the 
  post. He'd witnessed death plenty of times before, but this time it 
was 
  different. They weren't talking about some stranger he didn't know. 
This was 
  Harm and Mac.
  
  "So how do you even know that was Harm and Mac?" Clay asked once they 
were 
  inside."
  
  "We did retrieve these from the wreckage" Sgt. Davies said as he 
pulled out 
  a small plastic bag that he handed to AJ. "And based on what we've 
learned, 
  we have no reason to believe it wasn't them in the car."
  
  "Their dog tags" AJ said quietly as he pulled out the items from the 
bag. 
  "And Academy rings."
  
  "Oh god" Clay gasped. He hadn't wanted to believe it was true. That 
there 
  had been so awful mistake. But looking at what was left of their 
personal 
  effects suddenly made it all too real.
  
  "Again I'm very sorry," Sgt. Davies said quietly. "We'll investigate 
to 
  determine what happened. Most likely it was late and the Commander 
either 
  lost control or possibly even fell asleep."
  
  "You'd better keep investigating" Clay snapped. "Because there's no 
way he 
  simply lost or fell asleep. He's a fighter pilot for godsake. They 
don't 
  just lose control of a car or fall asleep at the wheel."
  
  "Mr. Webb, I'm sure you're upset" Sgt. Davies started.
  
  "Damn right I'm upset" Clay continued. "You've just told me two 
people I'm 
  very close to are dead and I want to know why. And I'm not buying 
driver 
  error unless you prove it."
  
  "Mr. Webb, even fighter pilots are human" Davies sighed.
  
  ****************************
  General McNamara's Home
  Above the Garage
  
  They'd both eaten and showered and now lay together on the bed.
  
  "You figure out what McNamara's up to yet?" Mac sighed.
  
  "No. But I'm sure it's not good. He didn't give us this little break 
for no 
  reason. His intention is to kill us but obviously he's so sick that 
he's not 
  going to just do it."
  
  "Which I guess is to our advantage," she said quietly. "Otherwise 
we'd both 
  be dead already."
  
  His turned his head to look at her, his eyes meeting hers. For a 
moment 
  neither said anything, the look in their eyes conveying a thousand 
words.
  
  "Mac" he started before two gentle fingers stopped him.
  
  "No" she whispered. "Not here. Not now."
  
  "But I need you to know" he protested.
  
  "I already know," she said softly. "And when I hear those words from 
you for 
  the first time I don't want it to be like this. I want it to be 
somewhere 
  special."
  
  "As long as you know" he sighed. "Not that we're not going to get out 
of 
  this because we are. Somehow."
   
 "You've never steered me wrong," she smiled, rolling so that she could 
lie on his 
chest, her head over his heart. 
 
 "Only about five hundred times," he sighed.  "You should have kicked 
me out of 
your life a long time ago."
 
 "It wouldn't have worked," she whispered.  "Because of that very thing 
we're both 
knowing but not saying."
 
 They were silent for several minutes, and she had nearly dropped off 
to sleep 
when he suddenly almost jumped and then turned her head up to face him.  
"I'm 
not at all sure what's going on here, but I know he's not going to keep 
us up here 
forever.  Regardless of what he did with the car or anything like 
that."
 
 "Are you going somewhere with this counselor," she murmured, "because 
I was 
almost asleep."
 
 "Yeah I am," he retorted.  "There's two of us, one of him, and he's 
going to have to 
move us or something.  So what if I manage to distract him, to get the 
gun 
somehow and then you run. . . what are you doing?"  
 
 While he was speaking her hand had traveled up his chest and was now 
resting 
on his forehead.  "I'm checking you for fever moron," she groaned.  "Do 
you 
honestly think I'd just run off and leave you to deal with this 
lunatic?  Are you sure 
you didn't bump your head when he dumped us in the cellar?"
 
 "Sarah," he whispered pleadingly.
 
 "Don't even," she replied.  "No.  You wouldn't me and I sure as hell 
won't you.   
When this Russia thing started my lot was cast with you.  And this may 
not be 
Russia, but this guy is probably even more dangerous because of his 
mental state.  
No."
 ==================
 AJ folded the bag carefully and put it into his pocket.  "They're 
families will have to 
be notified.  Mac's Uncle Matt at Leavenworth and Harm's mom and 
stepdad in 
California.  And we'll have to arrange some kind of funeral. . .uh 
memorial service."  
He looked around to see that Clay was paying him little attention, but 
staring at the 
car's shell.
 
 "Webb what the hell are you doing?" AJ demanded.
 
 Clay waved his hand absently to him and turned to Davies.  "Are you 
through 
here?"
 
 "Yes sir.  I've called a flatbed for the wreckage."
 
 Clay nodded and reached for his ID folder.  "OK but I don't want this 
car destroyed.  
I want you to tell me where you're taking it.  I'm going to call in a 
couple boys from 
my shop out here to check it over."
 
 "Webb I'm really ready to go," AJ hollered, his agitation obvious.  
"There's nothing 
more we can do here.  And plenty we need to do back at JAG."
 
 "Be right there," Clay yelled.  By the time he had concluded his 
instructions to 
Davies, AJ had walked a short distance away and was staring out over 
the ravine, 
his head bowed.
 
 Clay took a ragged breath and walked up behind him, putting his hand 
on his 
shoulder.  "Ready now."
 
 When AJ turned around Clay's eyes widened in amazement.  The older man 
was 
crying silent tears.
 
 "Let's get the hell away from here," AJ muttered, pulling away from 
Clay and 
striding toward their car.  
 
 "AJ I don't know what to say," he whispered when he got into the car.  
"I'm hurting 
too."  In actuality, Clay was holding out a vague hope but it was not 
something he 
wanted to share with AJ if it was not going to come to fruition.  No 
reason to give 
him false hope.
 
 "I know you are son," AJ nodded.  "It's not easy to lose friends, 
though you and I 
have lost our share over the years in the line."
 
 "I never used to let myself get close to just anyone," he sighed.  
"But these two 
were just different.  Plus I got caught up in the thing about Harm's 
dad."
 
 "I was going to say the same thing," AJ nodded.  "I even told Mac once 
it doesn't 
pay to get involved with people you work with, and I told both of them 
the second 
they met not to get too close because they had to work together."
 
 "That didn't strike you as an odd thing to say?" Clay asked.  
 
 "Actually no," he sighed.  "You see I saw their hands touch, and saw 
the look that 
passed between them and I knew the day would come. . .now it's not 
going to.  
Well at least they died together.   You think they told each other?"
 
 "That I don't know," Clay smiled, suddenly warmed by his memories of 
seeing the 
closeness and tenderness between the two.  "I don't know if they said 
the words to 
each other but they both admitted to me.  More important, they knew.  
There was 
no way either one of them could not know how the other felt.  They were 
in love."
 
 "Yes they were," AJ murmured, pulling away from the scene in a spray 
of gravel.
 
 As was the trip there, the trip back to DC was accomplished in 
silence, both 
 men lost in their thoughts. For AJ, it was trying to figure out how to 
tell 
 their family and friends that they were gone. For Clay, it was trying 
to 
 figure out what had really happened. He wasn't going to let go of his 
hope 
 that his friends might still be alive until someone proved to him that 
they 
 had in fact died in the fiery crash.
 
 "God this is going to be hard" AJ sighed when they pulled into the JAG 
 parking lot.
 
 "I'll come up with you" Clay said quietly. "If you don't mind, I want 
to 
 look around Harm and Mac's office and see if they had any notes about 
the 
 McNamara investigation."
 
 "Clay" AJ started.
 
 "AJ, let me do my thing. Please. It will make me feel better."
 
 "Just don't do anything to stir up McNamara" AJ sighed. "I don't need 
him 
 breathing down my neck now."
 
 "I won't. I'm just going to look around. Is that okay?"
 
 "Yeah sure" AJ said as they boarded the elevator.
 
 Several pairs of eyes greeted them as they stepped off the elevator 
and AJ 
 took a deep breath as he made his way to his office.
 
 "Sir" Harriet called as she came up. "Sir is there any word on the 
Commander 
 and the Colonel? Tiner said you'd gotten a call about them."
 
 "Tiner, can you get everyone together in the conference room" AJ said 
 quietly. "I need to say something and it's easier if I just have to 
say it 
 once."
 
 "Oh god, something happened to them" Harriet wailed. "Sir, please what 
is 
 it?"
 
 "Conference room Lt." AJ managed before heading to his office, Clay 
right 
 behind him.
 
 "You going to be okay?" Clay asked. "You want me to go with you when 
you 
 tell them?"
 
 "No, I can handle it. You go snoop through their offices or whatever 
it is 
 you were going to do."
 
 Clay nodded and waited for AJ to leave his office before going out 
through 
 the now empty bullpen to Harm and Mac's office. He headed to Harm's 
office 
 first, quickly finding part of the McNamara file on the top stack. He 
 scribbled some notes from Harm's file, including the name of the man 
who'd 
 made the accusations against McNamara. He might just have to pay a 
visit to 
 Mr. Hardley and see what he knew about General McNamara.
 
 He heard a small cry from the conference room down the hall and he let 
out a 
 long sigh. He knew AJ had to tell the others what had happened but he 
wasn't 
 going to let go of hope yet. Maybe it was all wishful thinking on his 
part 
 that they might still be alive. Maybe his mind just wouldn't let him 
come to 
 terms with the fact that he'd just lost his two best friends.
 
 "Anyone work around here?"
 
 Clay jumped at the sound of the voice, looking up to see an older 
gentleman 
 standing at Harm's door.
 
 "Uh, they're uh having a little meeting" Clay said quietly. "Are you 
here to 
 see someone?"
 
 "I'm looking for Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie. They were 
supposed to 
 be at the hearing today and neither of them showed up. When I asked 
around, 
 nobody over there knew anything. So I came over here. Are they in the 
 meeting?"
 
 "You're not Earl Hardley are you?" Clay asked.
 
 "Yes sir, that's me" Earl smiled. "And you don't look like no JAG 
attorney."
 
 "I'm not. Clayton Webb."
 
 "You're the Clay I heard all about when Harm and Mac were stuck with 
me for 
 a few days."
 
 "Yeah that's me" Clay smiled softly. "I didn't know you'd gotten to 
know 
 them that well."
 
 "Well being together for a few days like that, you tend to talk a lot" 
Earl 
 replied. "And they're both nice people. Like two of my own kids."
 
 Clay swallowed hard as the JAG staff returned from the conference 
room, 
 Harriet sobbing softly in Bud's arms. "Mr. Hardley, maybe you should 
have a 
 seat" Clay said quietly as he stood up and closed the door.
 
 "Something wrong?" Earl asked.
 
 "Um, there's no easy way to say this so I guess I'll just say it. Harm 
and 
 Mac were killed in a car crash on their way home from General 
McNamara's 
 yesterday."
 
 For a moment Earl said nothing. "No" he said finally.  "No way. He'd 
didn't 
 pluck her out of that water and bring her back to life for both of 
them to 
 die a week later."
 
 "I know it's not easy to accept" Clay started.
 
 "No, Mr. Webb it's not. And I'll tell you why. Because if anything 
happened 
 to them, McNamara is behind it."
 
 *********************
 General McNamara's Home
 Same Time
 
 "Mac" Harm murmured as he woke again, not feeling her arms around him.
 
 "Right here sailor" she said softly as she sank down on the bed beside 
him.
 
 "I thought you were sleeping?" he asked as he opened his eyes and 
looked up 
 at her.
 
 "I took a short nap. But that's all I needed. How you doing? How's the 
 ribs?"
 
 "Okay" he said as he pushed himself up to a sitting position. "Any 
sign of 
 the General?"
 
 "Not yet" she sighed. "But I'm sure our little break here isn't for 
long."
=============
Clay looked long and hard at Earl.  "I had been doing some checking 
myself," he 
said slowly.  "Harm and Mac told you who I work for?"

"Yeah they did," Earl nodded solemnly.  "Your dad was Neville Webb 
wasn't he?"

Clay's eyes opened as wide as they ever had.  "You knew him?  How?"

Earl just smiled and shook his head.  "I never forget a name or face 
and looking at 
yours and hearing your name I'm back thirty odd years ago.  Cocky young 
agent--
brass couldn't tell him nothing.  Of course back then no one could tell 
me nothing 
either.  Look Clay, why don't you and I go sit and compare what we've 
got.  But I'm 
betting a dollar to a donut those two aren't dead.  They're just 
finding out they have 
a lot to live for."

"You got to know them pretty well?"

Earl nodded.  "Liked them right off the bat.  They love each other 
Clay."

The CIA agent grinned broadly.  "You noticed?"

"Only from the first second I saw them, saw him clinging to her, her 
half drowned," 
Earl laughed again.  

"They had an accident there?"

"Flash flood pulled her into Willow Creek, and he got her out.  
Probably would have 
drowned himself trying."

"Yeah that would be Harm," Clay nodded.  "I've witnessed that devotion 
too.  First 
hand.  So you're in town for the hearings. You got a place to stay?"

"Actually I was planning to take Harm and Mac to dinner and then let 
them repay 
my hospitality," he confessed with a wry grin.  "Now I think I'll get a 
hotel room and 
hang around.  I may want to drive out to McNamara's myself."

"Mr. Hardley. . .Earl. . .you and I have notes to compare.  You can buy 
me that 
dinner and I have a guest room."

"Mr. Webb. . .Clay. . .you are on."
================
FOLLOWING MORNING
McNamara's Place

"It's daylight."  Mac stirred in Harm's arms, knowing the time.  They 
had spent the 
remainder of the day before inside the small apartment, mainly bored, 
mainly 
wondering what the demented Army general had in store for them.  "You 
awake?"

"Yeah I haven't really been asleep," he sighed, stopping short of 
admitting he had 
remained awake all night just reveling in the feeling of holding her 
and keep watch 
over her at the same time.  "I have a feeling whatever he's got planned 
for us, 
we're going to hear about it soon."

"Whatever it is, we'll handle it.  Together.  That means don't try to 
shuffle me off out 
of the way Mr. Rabb."

"Sarah. . ." he tried and stopped when he saw the stern look on her 
face, even in 
the dim light.  "Yeah OK.  Whatever it is, we handle it together."  He 
rolled her to 
her back and gently pressed his body over hers, having them share a 
long kiss.  
Neither mentioned that this could be the last time they would know this 
calm.
============
CLAYTON WEBB'S TOWNHOUSE
Alexandria, VA.

The table was strewn with papers and a couple of beer bottles, left 
over from the 
night before.  Both Clay and Earl had finally collapsed on the sofa, 
victims of a late 
night brain storm session over Harm and Mac and McNamara.  Finally they 
had 
resolved to get a few hours sleep and it was the ringing phone that 
startled Clay 
awake.

"Webb," he muttered, fumbling with the cell.  What he heard brought him 
awake at 
once, and he rubbed sleep from his face as he listened.  "OK Thanks.  
Write 
yourself an afternoon off."  He disconnected and reached out with his 
foot to nudge 
Earl.  "Earl, wake up.  That was my lab people.  They're positively 
sure.  There's no 
human ashes in the car."
 
  "I knew it" Earl said as he rubbed his eyes. "I knew they weren't 
dead. Not 
  those two."
  
  "Well we don't know that for sure" Clay sighed. "McNamara still could 
have 
  killed them and dumped the bodies elsewhere. Though why he'd go to 
all the 
  trouble with the car, I don't know."
  
  "No, they're alive. McNamara probably has them hidden away somewhere. 
He's 
  got a huge place out there you know."
  
  "We need to get out there," Clay said as he pushed himself off the 
sofa. 
  "I'm going to call AJ and tell him. Maybe he'll want to come out with 
us. 
  Why don't you go grab a shower while I do that."
  
  Earl nodded and hurried off to shower and change, the smell of coffee 
  greeting him when he emerged.
  
  "AJ's on his way" Clay informed him.
  
  "We're going to handle this ourselves?" Earl questioned.
  
  "You don't have to be a part of this if you don't want to" Clay said 
  seriously. "I'm not asking you to come along unless you want to."
  
  "Hell yes I want to. If that bastard laid a finger on either of them, 
I want 
  to make sure he pays for it. And they were only out there because of 
what I 
  told them. I'm feeling a might bit guilty about that."
  
  "You had no way of knowing McNamara was off the deep end."
  
  "Yes I did. That man has always been off. I just never thought he'd 
go to 
  such lengths to get this promotion. And instead of standing here 
yapping you 
  best get moving Mr. Webb."
  
  Clay nodded and hurried off to shower and change. He'd just finished 
when 
  Earl let AJ in.
  
  "Pleasure to meet you sir" Earl greeted AJ. "I wanted to tell you how 
fine 
  of officers the Commander and Colonel are."
  
  "They have their moments" AJ smiled. "So what's the plan Mr. Webb?"
  
  "We're going out to McNamara's to see what he says" Clay replied. 
"And if we 
  don't like his answers, we'll ask again. Only it won't be nicely."
  
  "You really think he's behind Harm and Mac's disappearance?"
  
  "No doubt AJ. He was the last one to see them alive. And when they 
told him 
  what Earl told them, he probably snapped."
  
  "What makes you think they're still alive then?"
  
  "Cause if he'd killed them, he would have put the bodies in the car. 
The 
  fact that there were no human ashes in the car means they're alive" 
Earl 
  spoke up.
  
  "I hope you two are right" AJ sighed. "For a lot of people's sakes."
  
  "You didn't call Trish did you?" Clay asked.
  
  "Haven't been able to reach her. I think she's on a trip somewhere 
right 
  now. The girl at the gallery was going to try and get me a number 
where they 
  were."
  
  "Good. Because I'm pretty sure that's one phone call you won't have 
to 
  make."
  
  "Are we ready?" Earl asked. "The longer we stand here the longer it 
takes us 
  to get to McNamara's."
  
  ******************
  General McNamara's Home
  
  "I swear he's just leaving us up here to rot" Harm sighed.
  
  "I'm sure he'll be back. Just a matter of when. In the meantime, I 
can think 
  of worse things than being stuck in a room with you."
  
  "Yeah I suppose," he said with a small smile. "Course I'd prefer it 
be me 
  stuck here and you safely at home instead of here with this madman."
  "I don't. I'd much rather be here with you than at home wondering 
what 
  happened to you."
  
  "You're demented Marine" Harm groaned.
  
  "No I just know how much you mean to me," she said softly. "And how 
there's 
  no way I'd want to live the rest of my life without you."
  
  "You mean a lot to me too. And I don't even want to think about my 
life 
  without you. I've come too close to that recently as it is. All I 
know is 
  somehow we have to get out of this."
  
  "And we'll do it together" she reminded him. "No heroics on me Rabb. 
I want 
  you to promise me that."
  
  "Mac, I can't promise you that. If an opportunity presents it's self, 
I'm 
  going to take it. Anything to get you away from here I'll do it."
  
  **************
  En Route to General McNamara's
  
  "You sure we shouldn't alert the authorities?" AJ asked.
  
  "And have them go crashing in. No way" Clay replied. "We'll handle 
this 
  alone. If we need help later we can call for it."
  
  "All right Webb, I'm trusting you on this" AJ sighed.
  
  "Trust me, AJ" Clay said quietly. "I'm not going to do anything to 
risk Harm 
  and Mac's lives. They're my friends and I'm not going to do anything 
to put 
  them in jeopardy."
 
 "And if we get all the way down here and find this man sitting calmly 
at his desk, 
then what?"
 
 "Not gonna happen," Clay told him firmly.  "You know I live and die by 
my instincts, 
and if this stunk yesterday, it reeks today."
 =============
 "Harm I won't leave you," Mac told him firmly, her eyes narrowed into 
tiny slits as 
she spoke.  "No way.  You wouldn't leave me and I won't leave you.  And 
don't try 
to tell me you would."
 
 "You know I wouldn't, but if I could get you to safety. . ."  
 
 "Stuff it Sailor," she ordered.  "We both go or we both stay."
 
 He was about to object when the door rattled and they knew it was 
being 
unlocked.  Harm at once pushed her behind him, holding his arm across 
her.
 
 "Good morning.  I hope you two rested well," McNamara greeted them, 
the ever-
present shotgun held waist high.  "Time for the game to begin."
 
 "Game?  I don't get it," Mac frowned.
 
 Realization dawned on Harm.  "I do.  Game.  We're going to play a 
game.  A 
hunting game.  He's the hunter, and we're the quarry.  Am I right?"
 
 "Dead on," McNamara smiled.  "Dead on.  And hey who knows.  Maybe 
you'll get 
lucky and make the main road.  Of course I'm not going to be using this 
old 
blunderbuss here.  I've got a Remington with a scope that will dead-eye 
a fly on an 
apple in the orchard."
 
 "We won't play," Harm tried.
 
 "Yeah you will.  Otherwise you'll watch each other die.  And not 
quick.  I'll simply 
leave you up here with no food or water.  Your funerals will come and 
go and the 
world will forget about you while you starve to death.  Commander 
she'll go first.  
She doesn't have any body fat to sustain her.  She'll die in your arms 
and you'll 
follow her a few days later."
 
 "You're insane," Harm gasped, "totally warped and insane."
 
 "I know.  But I keep up a pretty good front.  When I get my 
appointment, I'll be in a 
good position to make some real changes too."  He smiled malevolently 
and 
backed out of the doorway.  "Why don't I give you a minute to discuss 
your 
options."  The door closed, leaving Mac and Harm to stare at each other 
in muted 
horror.
 
 "We don't have any choice," he finally whispered, taking her into his 
arms.
 
 "I know.  And look at it this way, there's two of us.  We might be 
able to flank him 
or something."
 
 "Always the Marine aren't you," he grinned slightly.  "OK, Marine.  
But when we get 
out of this, I have something very important to tell you."
 
 "Does it have anything to do with this?"  Her lips found his and they 
shared a long 
kiss.
 
 "Only everything," he panted when they had to breathe.  They were 
still clinging 
together when McNamara opened the door.  
 
 "Do we have a decision?"
 
 "Oh yeah we'll play."  Harm drew himself up to his full height.  "But 
know this 
General.  If you hurt her, or she gets hurt in any way in this, I'm 
going to rip your 
heart out of your chest and stuff it down your throat."
 
 "Empty threat Commander.  Move out."
 
 With his arm protectively around her back, Harm walked slowly to the 
steps, 
blinking in the bright  sun.  
 
 "Go on down," the General directed.  
 
 "You're just going to stay up here and pick us off?" Mac demanded.  
"Hell General 
what kind of sport is that?"
 
 "Not at all," he replied smoothly.  "You remember the paint ball 
field.  You head for 
that.  I'll give you sporting chance.  You have my word.  Soon as you 
get to the 
edge, you take off."
 
 Harm hitched his arm across her more tightly and once they reached the 
bottom 
started toward the field.
 
 "You know we're going to have to separate," she whispered with a 
backwards 
glance to McNamara, now following them about twenty feet behind.
 
 "And you know he's expecting us to do just that.  We'll peel apart and 
he'll take us 
both down."
 
"No I don't think so," she frowned.  "That would be too easy for him.  
He's going to 
toy with us first. Stalk us some.  He can kill us any time with that 
rifle and he knows 
it.  But he wants the chase first."
 
 "Maybe we shouldn't feed his fantasy."
 
 "Then he will kill us," she reminded him quietly.  "Once he has no use 
for us we 
are dead.  OK, since this is an infantry game and I'm a lot closer to 
that than you 
Swabbie, here's what we're going to do.  I'm going to take off running.  
I'm betting 
I'm going to draw his fire, but he won't hit me."
 
 "And what if he does?  You're out of your mind if you think I'm going 
to. . ."
 
 "Shut up and listen," she snapped.  "I'm a smaller and faster target 
than you and 
you know that.  He'll toy with me and you can get out of his sight.  
From there you 
might get lucky.  You've got the size advantage I don't if you jump him 
from 
behind."
 
 "No," he wailed.
 
 "Yes.  It's a good plan.  We're out of options here anyway.  If you've 
got something 
better this would be. . ."  Her voice trailed off and she looked at him 
closely.
 
 He returned her look with one of helplessness and she smiled softly.  
"Now."  To 
keep him from trying to prevent her move, she gave him a little push 
and took off 
through the dead corn stalks, hearing his cry of her name as she did 
so.
 The sound of a gunshot cut through the quiet and for a moment he 
froze.
 
 "Dear Lord, please keep her safe" he whispered. He remained in his 
spot, 
 watching McNamara slowly make his way down from the house. As Mac had 
 predicted he followed after her, raising and shooting his weapon 
several 
 times as he went. Each time Harm shuddered at the sound, praying the 
General 
 wasn't as good of a shot as he thought he was.
 
 ************
 "You hear that" Clay said they pulled into General McNamara's 
driveway.  
 "Gunshots."
 
 AJ floored the accelerator, pulling up in front of the house seconds 
later.
 
 "Earl, maybe you'd better stay back," Clay said as he reached for his 
 weapon.
 
 "Just give me one of those and I can handle myself" Earl said quickly.
 
 Clay nodded and handed the older man a weapon. Seconds later, the 
three men 
 carefully made their way out of the car and around to the back of the 
house.
 
 *********
 Harm slowly followed General McNamara, waiting for the moment to make 
his 
 move. The General seemed to have forgotten about him, Mac's plan 
obviously 
 working.
 
 "You're making this quite a game Colonel" McNamara called. "But I'm 
still 
 going to find you."
 
 "Like hell" Harm muttered under his breath. He just needed the right 
moment 
 to catch McNamara off guard.
 
 A cry from the cornfield caught his attention and he heard McNamara 
laugh. 
 He strained to see ahead, finally seeing Mac on the ground, grabbing 
her 
 ankle.
 
 "Forgot to warn you about those little holes out there" McNamara 
called. "I 
 guess this isn't going to be as good of a game as I thought it would 
be."
 
 He raised his gun again and Harm let out a loud cry of "Nooooooo" and 
at 
 once McNamara whirled around. The simultaneous sound of gunshots 
filled the 
 air, followed by Mac's scream as both Harm and General McNamara fell 
to the 
 ground.
 
THE End
	Watch for the next chapter of Past Present Future coming soon.