“To Get Back” 

Rita Widmer

Disclaimer: JAG doesn’t belong to me, but to DPB, CBS,
and cast and crew.
Author’s Note: This is the sequel to “To Walk Away.”
It probably be best to read that first before starting
this one. Previously, Mac had transferred out of JAG
into the CIA after coming back from an undercover
investigation. This is about 3 months later.

Summary: Mac’s new job has repercussions. 

Rating: PG

~~ = dreams
***********************************************************************

Somewhere in Afghanistan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She looked over at her companion, and noticed that she
had passed out. She didn’t know how much longer she
would survive if she didn’t get help. In the back of
the truck lay the only other survivors of the bombing.
All she knew was to get to safety, and her own
injuries were slowing her abilities to drive. The
nearest hospital was at the American military base. As
long as she could make it there they knew they would
be safe.

‘Got to get to safety. Got to get to safety,’ she
reiterated in her mind over and over again trying to
give herself the reserve to last when unconsciousness
was fighting to take control of her. There was no way
she was going to allow herself to die in the middle of
the desert. 

Her fear grew as she noticed the gas gauge was quickly
lowering to empty. She knew nothing about the distance
left to get to the base. Her companion would have
known if she had been awake. There was nothing to do,
but keep going toward her destiny. Praying that she
would get close enough to be discovered by people on
the base.

The truck would only make it for another half hour
before it ran out of gas and sputtered to a stop there
in the middle of the desert. The mountains surrounded
her on each side, and the only road led forward in
front of her with safety on the other end.

There was no possibility of being found so she slowly
moved out of the truck. She would have to go get help
on foot. There was no way that any of the others would
survive a trip across the desert.

She prayed for the energy to make it, but that she
would not be found by anyone but an American. She knew
that if she were caught out here by an Afghani she
would be in trouble with being out of an abaya and no
identification to show that she was an American.

Soon she found herself barely able to stand as she
fell forward to the ground, and got up several times
before trying to move on. Destiny wasn’t for her to
make it to base, she collapsed on the ground with one
last yell for help for any hope of being heard. She
knew it was useless as everything went black in her
world.
***********************************

Same place
30 minutes later
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Gunny, come here there’s something you got to see,”
cried out Sergeant Wilkins.

“What is it, Sergeant? We need to get back to base,”
called back the Gunny.

“Its a truck down below on the road. There is no sign
of anyone else. I think we need to check it out.”

“Head down there and report back on your
walkie-talkie.”

The site in the truck was nothing like he expected. In
the passenger seat lay one woman unconscious, but she
was breathing very slowly. Checking in the back he
found even more bodies that were severely injured. He
was sure most of them had died waiting for help. There
was no sign of a driver anywhere near or in the truck.

“Gunny, we got injured and casualties here. They need
to get to the base hospital. We’ll need to call the
base for a helicopter. The truck is out of gas which
would explain why it was left here.”

After getting a message to the base the Gunny came
down to the truck to inspect the situation himself.
The lady in the front seat seemed familiar to him.
Leaning over to check for a pulse he soon recognized
the woman. The helicopter had finally arrived, and
they took her out of the truck to be put on a
stretcher. The woman looked up at the Gunny, and she
tried to speak one last time before she went back
unconscious.

“I’m sorry...” she tried to croak out one last word,
but no sound came out of her.


***********************************

0808 Zulu 
Harm’s Apartment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~ Harmon Rabb Jr. stood at his stove stirring his
latest concoction of pasta for dinner that night. Mac
was going to be coming over for their semiannual
Friday night dinner that they had since she
transferred out of JAG. There were times when one was
gone on assignment they would rearrange their dinner.

Hearing the knock at the door, he went to open and
found a smiling Mac. He gave her his best flyboy smile
which he knew made her knees go weak. “Come on in,
Mac. Dinner is almost ready. Did you bring the movie?”

She walked in and handed him her coat. “I’m starving!
I don’t think I’ve had time to eat since yesterday
afternoon.”

“Go sit down and take a break. You need to eat more
often. Do they have you on a new case?”

“I can’t tell you much, but it will be a vital case
that will take me away for even months out of the
country.”

He turned to look at her directly as he stopped
setting the table. “And you weren’t going to tell me
you are leaving for months?!”

“I was going to tell you tonight. You’ve been out of
town most of this past week, and I only found out on
Monday. There is nothing for you to do in this case. I
have a new partner that is training beside me. She has
a lot of experience in this area.”

“I just want you to be safe, Mac. Come on dinner is
set. I don’t want you to faint on me.”

They enjoyed dinner in a companionable silence. Each
with their own thoughts of what was to come in the
next few months. After dinner they went and watched
the movie Mac brought. Later that night, Harm was
opening the door before he finally spoke what was on
his mind.

“Will I see you before you leave?”

“I will be by before I leave unless you are out on a
case. I’m still in training for it so don’t worry so
much about when I’m leaving.”

His hand by its own violation went to her face. “Just
promise me, you will come back to me when its all
over.”

“I can’t promise you that, Harm. I can only try.”

“That’s all I can ask.”

“I need to go. Good night Harm.” She leant up towards
him, and gave him a light kiss on the lips before
heading out the door.

“Night, Mac.” Touching his lips at the memory of hers
on his. ~~

Harm woke up with the worst feeling in his heart. It
felt empty. It was like all the love he ever felt was
missing, and now it was an empty shell of its old
self.

“Sarah, you can’t leave me now. Please!” Harm cried
out in some strange sense of hope that she would hear
him and fight.

***********************************

Same time
Base Hospital in Afghanistan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~ Sarah Mackenzie walked around the little school
where she was watching over the kids. A sense of fear
was coming over her as she walked. Something was going
to happen, but no one knew what was to come.

She could hear an airplane fly over her head, but paid
no attention to it. Until she felt the blast hit the
building, and she took cover as best she could as
debris flew at her. The pain was trying to take her to
unconsciousness, but she knew she had to fight it.
There were survivors to find and rescue.

There was little of the building left as she tried to
get up from underneath the debris. Every where she
turned she found dead bodies. She started to wonder if
somehow she was the only survivor. 

Finally, she came upon her partner who lay stunned on
the ground. Mac helped her up and get her stable, and
in Farsi told her to go see about finding a truck.
They would need to get to the nearest hospital for any
chances of survivors making it. The pain was getting
stronger as she dug around the debris hoping for any
chances, but she found a few survivors that were
unconscious. 

For many it was too late as she found bodies of the
students there. Children that were so young and
innocent who would never know why her people were
fighting, and why they had to die for the cause.

Mac took a moment to catch her breath. The tears
threatened to fall unbidden. It was too much to see
the dead bodies. 

‘You are a marine, and you have to save anyone still
alive.’ Mac ordered herself.

There was no one left alive in the building. Heading
out she found that the whole team had been devastated
by the bombings. Mac searched for survivors and her
partner came with the only truck she could find that
was in decent shape to drive.

With both of them working together they worked to get
them comfortably in back of the truck, and Mac got in
the passenger seat. Slowly Mac went unconscious as the
pain overtook her. She wondered if she would ever see
another day. ~~

As the dream ended the low buzz of the machines
surrounding Sarah Mackenzie went into a frenzie as her
heart rate lowered until the machine showed a straight
line. The alarms going off sent in the doctors and
nurses to try to rescue her before it was too late.

************************************

Harm’s Apartment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The pounding of Harm’s heart left him breathless as he
tried to calm himself down. He tried to convince
himself that nothing happened to Mac. She was going to
come home to him safely. After failing to use his
lawyer skills on himself he knew he had only one
choice, but to find out the truth. There was only one
man that he knew that could tell him.

The phone ringing on the other line was no answer, but
finally the familiar greeting came over the line.

“Webb,” sleepily Webb greeted into the phone.

“Webb, this is Harm. I need to know what’s happened to
Mac!” cried Harm.

“Can’t this wait for the morning?”

“Something’s happened to her, and I need to know.”

“You probably know more then me, Harm. I’m not working
with her on this investigation. I haven’t worked with
her since we worked together.”

“You’ve got to find out. I know she was on an
investigation, but...but I can’t explain it but
something has happened.”

“I will try in the morning. There is nothing I can do
now. Go back to sleep, and as soon as I know something
I will call you.”

“Webb there’s got to be a way to find out something!”

“There is no option. Go back to sleep. She’s probably
just fine, and you are worrying yourself over
nothing.”

Harm tried to choke back the tears that were
threatening. “If something happened to her, I’ll go
after the man that did this to her.”

“Rabb, calm down now. Nothing’s happened. Good night.”
Webb hung up the phone before getting a response from
Harm.


************************************

Webb’s Home
~~~~~~~~~~~

There was no going back to sleep for Clayton Webb that
night. It seemed destiny was to go without it. It
wasn’t even a moment later after hanging up that his
phone would ring again.

“Webb!” cried annoyed Clay answered the phone.

“Sir, this is Gunny Sergeant Galindez. Sorry to wake
you, but I need to relay some information to you.”

“I was already awake. What is it?”

“It is about Colonel Mackenzie. She was found
unconscious in the passenger seat of a truck full of
what looks like other survivors of a bomb. The driver
still has not been found.”

“What is her condition, Galindez?”

“She survived surgery, but they are not promising
anything to me about her chances of living.”

“Keep me updated on her condition. I want to know
everything. Is there any investigation going on about
what happened?”

“Yes, sir. They will not let me take part. I believe
the CIA is behind it all.”

“Mac was undercover for the CIA. Try using my name to
get into the investigation. I’ll try to get to
Afghanistan as soon as possible. I want to know what
happened now.”

“Will you be informing Commander Rabb?”

“He’s my next phone call. Now go find out what’s
happening, and get back to me.” Suddenly, the alarms
could be heard over the phone line. “What’s going on?”

“It’s coming from the Colonel’s room.” Gunny was soon
on his feet rushing to her room to find out what was
happening, and completely forgetting about Webb on the
phone.

************************************

Base Hospital
Afghanistan
~~~~~~~~~~

Gunny stood watching in shock. The doctor was yelling
at the nurse to do something, and the game went on
trying to get Mac’s heart to start again. His gaze
fixed upon the screen hoping to see any sign her heart
was working again. It was straight as an arrow. 

Then there it was the beeping. The heart had started
up again after all the work the doctors did to save
her. She was alive for now, and that was all that
mattered.

The doctor watched the man as he stood frozen in
shock. He didn’t know the connection the two had, but
it was obvious the man cared.

“She’s all right, Gunnery Sergeant.” He tried to reach
out to the man.

Gunny looked up, and nodded at the man that he
understood. He noticed the phone still being held in
his hand.

“Sir are you still there?” he asked.

“Of course I’m still here. What happened?” answered
Webb.

“They were able to save her. She’s made it this far.”

“Thank god for that. I’m heading out there on the next
plane.”

“Yes sir, and I’ll keep you updated. Night sir.”

“Night.”


************************************

Off-base
Afghanistan
~~~~~~~~~

Gunny stood over the dead body. There was no
identification on the women, but by the looks of her
clothes and injuries she probably was in the same
blast that Mac was in. The road was clear of landmines
so it was unlikely she had been hit by one and she
would not have been able to walk far.

He covered the body, and prepared to get it back to
base. There probably was only one person that could
identify her and that was Mac but she was incapable
for now.

“Sergeant, do you know what’s happening with the
investigation of the bombing?” asked Gunny.

“All I know is it looked like they were aiming
specifically towards the school. There are no clues on
who did it or why. Though they believe it might be
some member of the Taliban, but everything is up in
the air.”

“I want to be part of the investigation. Who do I talk
to?”

“That would be Commander Krivetz. He is in charge.”

“Thanks Sergeant. Will you keep watch over her until
they get her prepared to be sent back? I’m going to
see about getting a ride to the site.”


*************************************

Bomb Site
Afghanistan
~~~~~~~~~

The horror left behind from the bomb blast was more
then even Gunny knew how to handle. All around him lay
the dead in parts waiting to be identified if
possible. He knew they hoped to find some evidence on
who did it, and if it was a suicide mission to find
the body.

Whatever hit the town had nearly destroyed it to
pieces with few remnants of buildings standing up. The
death toll would be high, and no known reason for it
to happen. There was only one possible clue, and that
was Lt. Colonel Mackenzie who lay in a hospital bed
unconscious. He didn’t even know why she was there and
alone.

Gunny needed answers now before Webb arrived demanding
to know all that happened. From the description he was
given he easily found Commander Krivetz at the center
of the town. He boldly walked up to the man with
determination to get into the investigation. He
saluted the Commander before greeting him.

“Sir, Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez. I’m here on
the request of Special Agent Clayton Webb.”

“Is the government trying to take over my case,
Gunnery Sergeant?”

“No sir. Mr. Webb has a special interest in this case,
and wants all he can get. He asked me to do all
possible to find out what is going on, sir.”

“Does he now? If he wants to take over this case then
have him come here, and tell me himself or stay away
from my investigation. Dismissed.”

Gunny stood at attention and turned to walk away. He
was dismissed by an officer, and 
he had no choice but to head back to base. For once in
his life he hoped the men aboard his transport back
would be gossipers, and be willing to talk to him.

‘Something is better then nothing,’ Gunny thought to
himself.


************************************

On transport
An hour later
~~~~~~~~~~

Gunny had spent the last hour walking around trying to
get some grasp on the situation without getting into
trouble, but he could not find anything. He noticed
two other men already on the ship with body bags that
were being sent to the lab at the base.

The men were rapidly chatting in low voices as they
were preparing for flight back to base not noticing
the man that entered into the helo.

“I heard that the government might have something to
do with this,” one man said a little too loudly at the
thought of what he was saying.

Gunny stood in front of him stunned as he looked at
the man. The men finally noticed their superior
standing over them and quickly came to attention.

“What was that boys?” asked Gunny.

*************************************


On Transport
~~~~~~~~~~

Gunny watched the men very closely waiting for one to
give him the truth. He had no idea what they were
talking about.

“The Commander said he was confronted by a Gunny
saying he was there to represent the government, and
wanted to know everything.”

“That was me. The government was not the cause of this
accident. I can tell you that, but I know nothing
else.” Gunny got comfortable for the flight and hoped
for a smooth quick ride back to base.

************************************

On base
~~~~~~

Webb got off the helicopter, and was waiting for his
passenger to follow him off. He had tried to send
notice to Gunny when they would arrive, but he was no
where in sight. 

“Where’s Gunny?” asked Harm as he got out of the
helicopter behind him.

“Hopefully, try to find out what happened, and
couldn’t get back. Why don‘t you get on to the
hospital, since we know that’s where you want to be
and I will go find Gunny.”

“Thanks Webb.”

“Just make sure she is all right. It won’t be long
before she’ll be back home safe with you.”

“I can only hope. I don’t know what I’ll do if she
doesn’t make it.”

*************************************

On transport
15 min. later
~~~~~~~~~~

Gunny was shaken awake by a toss of the helicopter. He
was about to get comfortable when the helicopter
dipped.

“Get ready for emergency landing. We’ve been hit!”
cried one of the pilots in front. 

Gunny could feel the helicopter quickly dropping from
the sky. He looked at the other men with him, and knew
they were all thinking the same thing. Would they
survive the crash? 

The darkness over took him soon after impact, and
there was no more thought as he gave into
unconsciousness.

************************************

Base Hospital
~~~~~~~~~~

Harm sat next to Mac’s bed. She was being kept sedated
so her body could recover from her injuries. There was
nothing he could see that wasn’t either wrapped up or
bruised. When he had entered it took all his will not
to get sick. The doctors vowed to him that everything
was looking good. She was a survivor, and they had
high hopes.

He wanted to talk to her, and tell her all that he had
been waiting to tell her for years. His love for her
had been kept deep in his heart until he realized that
he could loose her to Mic two years ago on the
Admiral’s porch. He had no right to tell her then, and
he lost his will after the cancellation when things
went bad for them.

His reverie was cut short as a harried Webb came into
the room. He stopped short as he saw Mac for the first
time. It took him a moment to recover.

“I was trying to find out where Gunny was when they
got a Mayday call from one of the helicopters. It was
coming from the site of the bombing. No confirmation
of who was on it, but I was told that it was believed
that Gunny had left for the site earlier.” 

******************************************

Base Hospital

~~~~~~~~~

Harm sat back and watched as Webb whispered something
in Mac’s ear before turning up to look at him. 

“Take care of her, Harm. I’ll keep in touch on what’s
going happening.”

“That’s much easier to do when she’s unconscious. The
moment she wakes up she’ll be wanting to know when she
can leave.”

Webb gave a lopsided smile at the truth of that
statement. “If anyone can do it you can Harm.” With
that Webb walked out of the room, leaving Harm alone
with only his thoughts to keep him company.

Harm didn’t know how long he sat there watching Mac
rest when he heard a commotion going on outside the
door. Startled, he went out the door to find the
source. 

At the end of the hallway stood a group of doctors and
nurses standing around the TV. Being too far away, he
could not tell what was going on the screen. His heart
rate was beating rapidly in his chest as he grew
nearer. 

He stopped dead in his tracks as he noticed who was on
the screen. There before him photograph of Mac in her
uniform as a man robed in traditional middle eastern
clothing spoke. 

Harm didn’t need to hear the words the man spoke on
the screen to know what it was all about. The Taliban
had sent out a death warrant for Lieutenant Colonel
Sarah Mackenzie.

*************************************

Crash site

~~~~~~~

The trip to the crash site seemed to go on for
eternity. What Webb would find there he didn’t know,
and he hoped against hope that one of the victims was
not the Gunny. Webb was the first one off the
helicopter as it landed near the crash. 

He was greeted by the man that had sent Gunny away
from the bombing site. “Hello, Mr. Webb. Coming to
take over my work?”

“I’m not here to take anything over. One of our
operatives was in the bombing, and I have reason to
believe another was in the crash. I want to know all
you have on the victims and information on who might
have done this.”

“You’re looking for that Gunnery Sergeant that tried
to butt into my case. You’ll be happy to know that he
is on the helo that left with the other injured. The
pilot and copilot probably died before it hit the
ground. The other two men aboard are alive, but in
critical condition. Now if you’ll excuse me I have a
crash to investigate.”

Webb checked to find out when the next helo went out,
but it would be awhile before he could leave. Not
wanting to outright interfere he decided to take on
his own investigation of the crash. The only thing
that stood out was that there was no sign of an
apparent suicide mission. These people had gone out
only to get rid of the helo, and the information
aboard.

Not learning much he was ready to head back for the
base to find out what had been learned through
intelligence sources, and find out how his friends
were doing.

************************************

Base 

~~~

As Webb walked towards the hospital, a young corporal
came up to him. 

“Sir, the General wants to see you right away.”

“What’s this about?” commanded Webb, not liking being
told what to do.

“I don’t know, Sir. He just said it was urgent.”

Webb reluctantly changed directions to follow the
Corporal dreading the feeling that he was not going to
like the news he was about to be told. Entering after
being called in, Webb stood before a group of
distinguished men all in their military uniforms.

“Welcome, Mr. Webb. Please have a seat. We called you
to this meeting, because of your connection with
Colonel Mackenzie. Two hours ago this video was
released to the local television stations, and it was
broadcast all over the country.”

“What’s it about?” asked Webb.

“Why don’t we let you watch it instead?”

The fear that had cut through Harm as he watched
soared through Webb as he watched his friend’s picture
on the screen. Her life was in danger he knew as long
as she was in this country, and even possibly in any
part of the Middle East. 

“We believe we have found one of the Taliban camps. It
is lying near the bomb and crash site, and now with
this film we have their own words proclaiming they
bombed the town. When translated the man had claimed
they bombed the town, because of the evil brainwashing
done upon it by the American intruders. In two hours,
a bombing mission will be sent over the camp to one
make sure it is there, and two to bomb the camp until
it is in a weakened state. Then the troops will be
sent in to clear it out,” said the General.

“You have the option to stay or go with them,” spoke
up another military man to his right.

“I’ll be going with, but I don’t want a word spoken to
Commander Rabb about what’s happening. Keep him out
it.”

************************************

Base Hospital

~~~~~~~~~

The shock that once filled Harm was gone, and left
behind only a feeling of dread. The doctors told him
she was not strong enough to travel in her condition,
and the only thing they could provide was guards
around the door for her protection. He had readily
agreed to the guards knowing it was all they could do
until Mac could travel.

The guards would not be allowed to let anyone in
unless they had gotten permission from him. Feeling
only slightly better then, he returned to his vigil
watching Mac. Nobody was going to come after her
without going through him first.”

He had still not heard from Webb on the crash, and if
the Gunny had been in it. He had no clue on how long
Webb would take to get the information needed and head
out. The door creaked opened warning him someone was
coming in. 

“How’s she doing?” asked Webb walking in.

“She’s stable, but there is no sign of her waking up
anytime soon. Good thing too! I don’t want her knowing
what happened with the video. There would be no
stopping her.”

“Just give her time. She might be hoping that by the
time she gets up you’ll be in confession mode.”

“And I won’t disappoint her. What happened with the
crash?”

“Gunny was aboard the helo, but he’s in the most
stable condition of the survivors. The pilots died in
the crash.” 

“I’ll have to check up on him later. The man on the
video did confess it was the Taliban that did the
attacks. Do we have any information on his
whereabouts?”

“Some clues, but I’m being kept out of the search.
Besides you only have one duty station here, and that
is next to Mac. It’s hard to confess if you leave her
behind. Now I‘m leaving you. I will come be by tonight
or tomorrow. morning, and get some sleep before you
need your own bed.”

The door shut behind Webb as he went to prepare for
the mission. Harm turned around to watch Mac once
again. It was not long though before the cries
resounded in the room crying out Harm’s name. 

************************************

Taliban Camp

~~~~~~~~~

Webb watched from a distance as the pilots flew over
the camp bombing it away. He doubted that there would
be many survivors and those that did survive would be
too weak to fight back.

“We’re going in!”

*************************************

Base Hospital

~~~~~~~~~~

Harm sat silently watching Mac sleep. Her little
outburst earlier only lasted a moment before she fell
silent again. The doctors had told him it was a good
sign that she would be waking up soon, and he was not
ready to leave her side even with the assurance she
would soon be awake. 

Sleep wouldn’t come to him, and from the noises of the
airplanes up above he knew something was happening out
in the dessert. Somehow he knew it had to do with the
death threat on Mac, and Webb was involved some way or
another. The secretiveness of Webb’s actions earlier
led him to believe he was holding back, hoping to keep
him from going along. 

It had worked, he knew that nothing would have stopped
him from protecting Mac from anymore harm done to her
if he had any say in it. The protectiveness he knew
had always been there, but he hid it behind protecting
his partner, his job, and his friendship with her. Now
he knew better, it came from his love for her and
knowing that his world would end without her in it. 

Working at JAG hadn’t been the same since she left.
There was no more bickering and no more joking around
with his partner that he was so used to having every
day. Bud was an excellent partner, but nothing would
live up to having his best friend being beside him or
against him.

The ritual dinners they had shared since her leaving
JAG had kept him going without seeing her every day at
work. It also led him to hope they would become much
more without the rules and regulation hanging over
their head.

The quiet, “Harm” next to him brought his head up, and
he found himself looking into those dark brown eyes.
His face lighted up with a smile as he watched her
look at him.

*************************************

Inside Taliban Camp

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Webb had not been happy when he was stopped from
entering the bombed camp before it was cleared by the
military. Being told his job there was only to get
information needed, and not to actually fight against
any survivors. 

Looking around there was not much left standing up.
The buildings had been blown away to pieces except for
one towards the center that had most of its walls torn
away, but it was standing like a last testament to the
camp it used to be. A testament to the fight that was
not over yet between Western Civilization and the
terrorists that threatens the world. 

Webb headed there knowing that if he were going to
find anything it would be in the remains of that
building. If any others would reveal anything it would
take time to dig and unbury it before it would be
found.

Entering, he found men walking around and digging.
“Have they found anything?” Webb asked the nearest
man. 

“No sir. There is some evidence some people in the
camp had left before the bombing had started, and
might have gotten away with any papers or other
evidence. We won’t know for sure until more searching
has been done.”

“Thanks Sergeant, I will be taking my own search of
the building.”

The man nodded his head as Webb walked away. 

************************************

Base Hospital

~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey, you’ve got to stop falling asleep on a guy. He
might start thinking he is boring you,” said Harm as
he watched her wake up once more.

“You, never,” she choked out with her mouth dry. Harm
was soon there with ice chips for her.

“Well, a lesser man than me would. Besides the doctors
are trying to get rid of us. They want to send you
home.”

“Harm, what aren’t you telling me? They usually don’t
send someone home unless they are recovered or the
patient needs more expertise help then they can
offer.”

Knowing she wouldn’t accept anything less than the
full truth, he went for it. “Mac, the longer you stay
here the more your life is in danger. The Taliban
wants you dead. They sent out pictures of you for all
of their members to see.”

“So they were after me originally in the bombing? So
I‘m the reason why all those people died in the
bombing.”

“It’s not your fault. You had no idea that was going
to happen. If you had you would have done everything
in your power to save those people’s lives by getting
them out of there.”

“Don’t placate me.” A tear rolled down her cheek, and
stopped by Harm’s fingers.

“You know me better then that. I know you and I know
that you had no way of knowing this was going to
happen, and if you could have done something, you
would have done everything in your power to stop it
including giving your life. Evil men did this, and
they are the only ones at fault here. You were meant
to live through it, and continue helping against the
fight against terrorism.” He paused for a moment
before continuing, “plus I need you.”

“Why Harm?”

“Because I love you.”

A yawn escaped and her eyes started to shut again, but
before sleep captured her again, she whispered, “I
wish I could believe that.”

Harm sat surprised. He didn’t know which part she
didn’t believe, but knew in his heart that she didn’t
believe his words of love. 

“I’ll make you believe, Sarah. Just give me a chance
and I will prove my love for you.”

Though she was already asleep once again, Harm watched
as a small smile appeared on her face giving him hope.

************************************

On Route to Base

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Webb closed his eyes from the exhaustion. He had been
up all night trying to find evidence about the Taliban
and the bombings. They only found some maps and some
notes, but nothing concrete. 

He would go in and tell Harm the latest news before
hitting the hay. Webb knew that Harm knew something
was up, and was anxiously awaiting his news. They
arrived at base and he headed straight to the
hospital.

Webb entered the room to find Harm sound asleep with
his head lying against the bed. Taping him on the
shoulder, Harm slowly woke up.

“She must be getting better if you are allowing
yourself sound sleep,” Webb stated.

“Mac woke up a few times during the night. The doctors
have okayed her to be released tonight to be sent
home. She’ll need to check into Bethseda though.”

“I’m guessing they’ll try to make her escape as quiet
as possible so no one suspect her leaving from outside
of base.”

“They’re planning that as we speak. They want to make
it as safe, but want her to be as comfortable as
possible. So where have you been? Taking part in the
action?”

“They wouldn’t let me do much, but they bombed away a
Taliban Camp, and then we were sent in to retrieve all
evidence we could find which wasn’t much. Most escaped
before the attack.”

“So they knew what we were planning? Or at least
guessed something would be happening?”

“Probably, I won’t be going back home anytime soon.
I’ve got to stay back and work on the bombings. I need
some sleep, but I’ll try to stop by before you guys
leave. Take care of her, Harm.” 

************************************

Tarmac

Later that evening

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harm watched as the pilots got the helicopter ready to
leave. Mac was lying on a cot next to him that was
somehow secured to the wall. It seemed like forever
since he came to Afghanistan to rescue her, and now
they were finally going home. He knew Mac’s future
would once again be up in the air, as she will no
longer be allowed to work for the CIA. A part of him
hoped that she would come back to JAG, but knew it
wasn’t likely. He hoped even more that wherever her
career now took her it wouldn’t be without him.

************************************

Bethseda Hospital

Mac’s Room

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mac lays sound asleep on her cot. Her mind had
conjured up the images of that day where so many died,
because of a terrorist attack upon the town that had
taken her and her partner in for their undercover job.


All she could remember was walking through the school,
and looking at each of those kids' faces, which would
never know the evil that had brought their death.
Stopping short of the outside, she saw a young girl
who looked up at her with such hope, but it faltered
as the child took her last breath and died before Mac
could do a thing to save her. Those bright brown eyes
haunted her dreams each night that passed.

There her dreams ended. There was neither memory of
the trip in the truck nor the memory of waking up for
a mere second when help came. The first true memories
of those days in the hospital were those softly spoken
words, “Because I love you.”

Those words repeated over and over again in her head,
but it was not a lone sentence in her mind. It was
followed by more words of Harmon Rabb Jr., his words
to Sturgis telling him that the man that her
ex-boyfriends were either dead or wish they were. A
harsh reminder of the men that fallen to their deaths,
because they knew one Sarah Mackenzie.

She didn’t want to believe his words were true. To
believe would bring fear of what would happen to Harm
because he loved her, and for no other reason he would
die. Was it worth that chance that he might live or
risk it for a short while with him?

Mac woke to the gentle feeling of fingers caressing
her face. It was then she noticed that she had been
crying in her sleep, and those fingers belonged to
Harm, who never failed to wipe them away when he was
allowed to see them fall.

“Sarah, don’t cry. You are safe and home. Maybe not
your home, but at least you are nearer then you were.
Why are you crying?”

“I...I was dreaming of the bombing, and all those
children that died because of me.”

Harm stood up and looked at her sternly but gently.
“Sarah Mackenzie those children died because of evil
men who are out for revenge. You are not at fault for
Eddie‘s and Dalton‘s deaths, or any other man that
died in self-defense. I will not die just because we
love each other.” Harm walked over to the window. He
wanted her to believe his words, and allow herself to
love him with all her heart. No matter what he said he
knew it would take time and encouragement from him. 

“There’s no use in arguing who’s right or wrong, but
Harm I want to believe you. I’m going to try. Just
never stop loving me.”

He walked over and took her hand in his, and said one
simple but full of meaning word, “Never.”

*************************************

A Church Cemetery - Alexandria, VA

A week later

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The slight hill that curved in the grass was a
testament to the newly laid body of a woman who had
died. At the opposite end stood a gravestone on it
were the words Caroline Raymond, July 1, 1967-
November 14, 2003. 

Mac stood watch over the gravesite remembering the
woman who trained and went with her on that fateful
mission. The mission that would take her life away
while trying to save others. For a CIA agent, she was
a rather optimistic outwardly friendly woman. She was
not afraid to say what was in her heart. 

Her tongue sometimes on the mission would want to run
off on her, but she always caught it in time before it
got her in trouble in a country where women were
treated as third class citizens.

They had vowed that when they arrived home they would
laugh until pigs could fly at those moments where
seriousness could only be displayed. To have laughed
would acknowledge that something was not right calling
suspicion upon them.

The laughs never came, and now it was pain that filled
Mac’s heart at the memory of a life so young and
vivacious. A woman who was not willing to let herself
get down when life was harsh. Mac had not been able to
go to the funeral, but she was going to pay her last
respects to the woman that made it possible for her to
finally find happiness in life. A part of Caroline
would firmly lie in her heart reminding her to live
and love always. 

The crunching of the leaves brought another reminder.
She would never be alone. Harm would always be there
silently watching her and loving her until she was
ready to come to him. She felt herself being taken
into strong but safe arms as she was hugged.

Breaking away from him after a moment, she went over
and said her final good-bye and turned back to Harm,
and said “I’m ready.”

Mac watched silently as Harm went to the grave, and
she heard his soft, “Thank you for bringing her back
to me.”

Hand in hand they walked out of the cemetery.

************************************

JAG HQ

Two weeks later

~~~~~~~~~~

Walking through JAG Headquarters for the first time in
months was like walking through your childhood home as
an adult. There are so many memories there, but they
are all that is left of the past. No longer does the
adult belong, but the ghosts of memories past would
always play there. It was a nostalgic walk for Mac as
she entered the building. 

There was no where inside or outside that didn’t have
some kind of memory for her. She was there to start
her career anew once more. No one told her anything
about the opportunities that would come forth at the
meeting. She knew she would be welcomed back to JAG if
she wanted, but was there something more important to
her that would come. 

She entered the bullpen slowly, looking around her
hoping to find a glimpse of her old friends. It didn’t
long for them to notice her coming in, and she found
herself bombarded by questions of her trip and her
well being. 

Off in the distance, stood Harm, who was wearing a
bemused face as he watched Mac try to control the
conversation so she could answer all the questions and
get on her way to the Admiral’s. When she looked up,
he winked at her, and mouthed “later,” which earned
him a full Mac smile.

Soon she found herself in the Admiral’s office. Each
person staring at her as they awaited her to start.

“Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie reporting, Sirs.”

“At ease and sit down, Colonel,” ordered the SecNav.

“Thank you, Sir.”

Webb who had been hiding in the back came forward to
speak. “Mac, the three of us have spent the morning
discussing your future in the military, and came up
with several offerings. None of them though are for
the CIA. With the death threat, you are too much of a
risk. 

“Mac, I want you to know that you are welcome to come
back to JAG as a lawyer or a judge. We could use your
help, but that is up to you to decide,” said the
Admiral.

“I think I have the best offer for you, Colonel. With
the deadline set for putting together a government in
Iraq, we need people who can help put it together. We
need someone who know law, but also know the people
and the language. If this new government is going to
work it has to be able to work with the people of
Iraq. There will be some traveling, but we will keep
you out of the Middle East for your own safety and
those that are with you. Think it over and get back to
the Admiral or me on your decision,” said the SecNav.

“Sir, I don’t need time to think it over. Admiral, I
was happy here at JAG, but I know that the SecNav’s
offer is to good to miss out on. It might not be where
I thought I was heading when I transferred, but I
learned something. These are people of my background.
I have the opportunity to help them fulfill and become
a great democracy.”

“I really didn’t expect it, but I wanted you to know
that was an option still.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Webb, Mac, you are dismissed.”

Walking out, Mac asked the important question weighing
in her mind since she got back from Afghanistan. 

“How’s the Gunny, Webb?”

“He’s doing fine, Mac. He’ll be coming back here to
heal pretty soon.”

“Thanks, Webb, for everything.”

With that last line, Mac headed to Harm’s office. She
put on a huge smile and walked into his office and
shut the door and blinds. Catching both of them by
surprise, she walked over to Harm, with a gleam in her
eye, she bent over and kissed him passionately.

Mac knew deep down life was only going to get better
and she would find her happiness with the man she was
holding tight as they kissed.

************************************

Admiral’s Home

3 months later

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harm stood watching as Mac drove into the driveway.
There was just barely enough room for her to fit in.
The party the Admiral was throwing in honor of his
engagement to Meredith had started an hour before. Mac
had called to say she was going to be late since her
meeting before she left tomorrow to go on another
assignment took much longer then expected.

The night had a certain sense of deja vu with it. Once
again he was standing on the porch waiting for his
date to arrive late. It was someone else’s engagement
party, and again he was faced with his feelings for
Mac.

There had been dates and some kisses between them. He
repeated his words of love, but still no response
either in agreement or disagreement. Waiting was hard
to do, and he started to understand how she felt after
Australia. Not knowing when waiting would be over
seemed too much to handle. 

He looked up to find her smiling at him. He returned
it with a full-fledged knee weakening flyboy smile.
Watching for a second, he saw the slight flicker of
the smile as he knew her knees went weak on her.

She would never admit to him that it affected her, but
he had learned to read those little signs that gave
her away. Giving him a kiss on the cheek as she came
onto the porch, she greeted him, “I see you’re in a
great mood tonight.”

“Why not? The Admiral is in a great mood here and at
work. The party is going okay, and I’ve got the most
beautiful date. It will be a perfect night if I get a
repeat of the kiss.”

“That might be doable if your date gets a dance under
the stars. You know under that Marine facade she is a
romantic at heart.”

“Oh really? Then I’m the man to show her true
romance.”

“Giving a girl your flyboy grin is not considered
romance, mister.”

“Haha, Marine, I even know that. That’s just how you
get the girl to fall under the spell, and then I throw
in all of the little romantic things.”

“Not this Marine.”

“In your dreams.”

They entered the house, and it seemed fate wanted to
separate them. They spent the next hour apart, and
Harm was getting impatient for them to be back
together. Walking over to the Gunny who had been
assigned in charge of music since he couldn’t move
around much with the cane. 

“Gunny, I’ve got an assignment for you.”

“Yes, sir?”

“First, relax. This is a party. Secondly, I need you
to do me a favor. I want you to play this song in 5
minutes. Finally, I just wanted to let you know I’m
glad you’re back at JAG even if it is temporarily.”

“Thank you, sir, and I will do that for you.”

Thanking him, Harm went off to find Mac before the
song started. He wanted it to be perfect for them as
they danced under the stars. ‘Can’t have the moment
ruined and not get that kiss,’ thought Harm.

Finding her talking to Meredith, he dragged her off to
the porch just in time. 

“Flyboy, if you wanted me alone all you had to do was
ask.”

“And missed out on the first part of our new song.
Come on lets have that dance.”

They started to dance in the traditional pose as the
opening streams of the song came through the doors and
windows.

It had to be you

It had to be you

I wandered around

And finally found

The somebody who

Could make me be true

Could make me be blue

Or even be glad 

Just to be sad

Thinking of you

“No matter what is happening in our lives. I can’t
stop loving you and being happy doing so. I will
always need you in my life.”

Harm felt her move closer to him, her hand moved from
his hand up his arm causing him to shiver slightly as
it wrapped around his neck. His arms wrapped tightly
around her waist. Their hips swayed enticingly against
each other.

Some others I've seen

Might never been mean

Might never be crossed

Or try to be bossed

But they wouldn't do

For nobody else

Gave me a thrill

With all your faults

I love you still

It had to be you

Wonderful you

It had to be you

“No one could compare to you, Harm. Every boyfriend
was a comparison to you. Mic was right that I never
loved him enough, because I love you. I’m in love with
you.”

She looked up at him and saw so much emotion in his
eyes. “I love you so much Sarah.”

Her heart leaped as she truly accepted his words this
time. She didn’t know what it was that caused this
belief. Maybe it was the song, time, and/or the place
of where he first said those words I love you even if
it could have been mistaken to mean someone else.

At that moment all she wanted to do was kiss him, and
so she did. She leaned up as he leaned down kissing
her gently. His tongue sought entrance into her mouth
as he licked her lips, and he allowed him in as their
tongues dueled against each other. Each wanting to
take over the space.

His arms crushed her against him even more tightly.
There was nothing they wanted more then for the moment
to last forever. Their lips parted as need for air
overtook their passion. They looked into each other’s
eyes and knew nothing would be the same ever again.
They were starting something beautiful and
everlasting.

Harm started kissing her neck as he tried to calm his
heartbeat. “Can we leave the party now?”

“I have no objection, counselor. We’ve got much to
talk about, and only one more night before I leave.”

“Well we could hold off the conversation to make sure
you have a reason to come back home.”

“Nope, we’re having the conversation and anything else
you can think of you want to do for the night. Come on
lets say our good-nights and congratulations.”

That night they would talk about the past and the
future, and Mac tried to explain her reasons for not
believing until now. They spent that night together,
and the next day she left on assignment, but with
special memories to keep her going for the next two
weeks.

The End