TITLE: "Mayport IV-Guantanamo" AUTHORS: Anne R. and Pat Steiner SUMMARY . The new year brings a new assignment for Mac and Harm. This is the fourth in what we plan to be a year long series. Mac and Harm are TAD away from JAG, assuming a joint command of a TSO [Trial Services Office] at the Mayport NAS in Florida. For purposes of this story, Mattie has gone to a foster family. CLASSIFICATION/RATING: J/S/R/A PG for language and mild violence in future stories. SPOILERS: In any of our work, any JAG episode may be referred to. FEEDBACK: If you're so moved but never expected nor begged for. Addy is ssbpmn@aol.com. Please however, we request you respect the work, and the effort that goes into writing it. NOTE: All parts of this story and previous chapters, as well as much of our other works, are available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories The message archives are open to all registered Yahoo users-no subbing required. Please ignore any notice of adult content you may see-there is no R nor NC17 content there. Other archives containing our stories: http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/ or http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag or BTL- http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/ http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction archive.} Previously in Mayport: Mac and Harm were given their TAD assignment and introduced to the other office staff. Lt. Gregory Milay, USN, and Maj. Gwendolyn Sauls, USMC. Mac finds housing and meets her handsome and available landlord, who happens to have a sister who strikes Harm's eye. Greg and Gwen find mutual ground and begin to relate to each other with greater ease. Mayport II concludes with Harm's announcement that he has rented the vacant cabin across the driveway from hers. In Mayport III, Gwen is sent on assignment to Guantanmo, against the desires of her partner, and one panicked call from her sends him running. "Mayport IV-Guantanamo" "Sir are you sure?" "Do I look like I'm fooling around here?" Greg hissed. "Just get them typed. I'll handle the signature." "Yes sir. But sir, if the Commander or Colonel asks me, I'm not going to lie." "I wouldn't expect you too," Greg snapped. "I'll be back in ten to pick up the papers." "And that's about all I have anyway," Peter sighed. "I'm doing my PT test and then career counseling and a physical." "Well there you go. You won't even be here to need to lie." "Sir if I can speak freely, you're risking a lot just to go have a weekend fling with her." "Do you think I'd be this frantic if that's what this was?" he gasped. "She's gotten herself into some kind of trouble down there and I'm not waiting around here for them to decide to check it out or go through channels or anything else. She would not have called like that if there was any other choice. She begged my help and my help she's going to get." "Yes sir. Off the record sir, I think she's worth it." "I know she is." An hour later when Mac and Harm arrived for their regular work day, both Peter and Greg were gone. "I know it's Friday but this is ridiculous," Mac sighed, looking at once to their status board. "OK Marquest is on PT and stuff. I remember that. Now what's with Greg? I can't read that hen-scratch." "I think it says emergency leave," Harm frowned. "Strange. He has our cell phone numbers if he had a problem. I don't get it." "Something in his family," Mac offered and spotted PO Myers. "Myers did you talk to Lt. Milay this morning?" "No ma'am. I know Marquest did, but he's gone for the day. I saw that the Lieutenant had signed himself out. First time I can remember him doing that. Must have been something serious." "OK. Thanks. If he does call in be sure the Commander or I gets the word," Mac ordered and turned back to Harm. "I don't know what to think. Let's leave a call on his phone to contact us and get to work." "Sounds like a plan," he shrugged. "I'm sure if he needed anything he'd let someone know." The rest of the day passed quietly with no word from Greg. On the way back out to Pelican Bay Harm pulled into a deli just outside the gates. "Urge for pastrami?" Mac asked. "Eeewww ick. But you can have it. I actually thought we'd get some sandwiches and salad stuff and change quick and picnic. It's a warm night and should be a pretty sunset at the point." "Wow." "Is that a yes?" "As soon as I recover it is," she smiled and cocked her head. "Uh. . .does this have anything to do with me supposed to be going out with Brady tomorrow night." "Well obviously we can't do it then," he replied with a shrug. "And," she prompted. "Yeah OK I wanted to spend some time with you tonight. Maybe that's why. Hell I don't know. Do these things have to be all that complicated?" "No they don't. Let's get me that pastrami I'm suddenly craving. I'd love to sit on the beach with you tonight." Thirty minutes later they sat down on the blanket and Mac spread out their food. "You know this was a really good idea sailor" she smiled. "In fact I'm surprised you came up with such a good idea." "I have a few now and then" he laughed. "Okay so why didn't Greg call us back?" Mac sighed before biting into her pastrami on wheat. "Whatever it is, he should have been in contact with us. Even if it was just to let us know he wouldn't be around. I just hope it isn't something serious." "Like his family?" "Which by the way we know nothing about." "I was thinking that when I read his note. If it's his parents or if he even has parents. We need to find out." "Well whatever it is, he better have a good reason for not being in contact" Harm sighed. "A simple call is all it would have taken. And it's not like he doesn't know our cell phone numbers." "You're worried." "Yeah I am. I mean if its some kind of family crisis, maybe there's something we could do to help." "Harm he'll check in. Probably whatever it is has his mind preoccupied right now." ============== At that moment, calling his superior officers was the last thing on Lt. Gregory Milay's mind. Finding Gwen was all he could think of. He'd arrived in Gitmo hours earlier and had spent the afternoon in search of her. A search that so far had yielded him nothing. She hadn't reported for duty and his gut was telling him she was in big trouble. He'd come back to camp out near her room at the BOQ, determined to find someone who would know something. And Lt. Hennessey was the first person he wanted to talk to. "Lt. Kathleen Hennessey?" he asked the young woman as she came to her door. "Who are you?" she demanded. "What do you want?" "I'm looking for Major Sauls I mean Lt. Gibson. Do you know where I might find her? She didn't report for duty this morning." Kathleen's eyes opened wide. "No. Are you sure?" "Positive. And the last time I talked to her she said she was in trouble." "Lt. Conover" Kathleen whispered. "It has to be her. She and Patty got into it last night. Patty was standing up for me again." "Where can I find this Lt. Conover?" Greg demanded. "Please this is very important." "Down the hall. Third door before the stairs. But wait. You called her Major Sauls. I don't understand." "You called the JAG offices in Mayport right?" "Yes I did. I was terrified." "Lt. Gibson is really Major Gwen Sauls from JAG. She's been hanging around to find out who was stalking you. And I think she may have found the person." "Lt. Conover?" "You and her were up for the same position right?" Greg asked. "Yes but..no you don't think she was behind it. And if so, what does that have to do with Patty or Gwen disappearing unless…..oh my gosh you think Lt. Conover is behind this and she found out about Patty." Greg nodded. "Look I need to find Gwen. I'll explain more later. But I need you to do me a favor. I need you to call the JAG offices in Mayport. Tell them Major Sauls is missing. And that I'm trying to find her." "Now?" "Yes. Tell the duty clerk you need to speak to the CO's. They'll get you to them." ============= Just about the time Mac and Harm were sharing some fresh fruit, that the sun began to paint the sky luscious hues of reds and golds. "Sailor I say again, this is wonderful." She sat down the platter and looked at him intently. "You're turning into a romantic in your middle age aren't you?" "Has nothing to do with age, and everything to do with the company I keep," he smiled softly. "And maybe with being away from DC and JAG and it being you and I and. . .can't you stop me from raving here?" Wordlessly she captured his lips in a long kiss. "The perfect cure for when I run on at the mouth," he sighed, dropping back on the blanket and pulling her down with him. "I'm going to try that next time we're opposing in court," she whispered, letting herself be enveloped in his embrace. "You do that," he grinned, pressing her head down tightly against his chest. For a long time they lie together as the light faded. Just before the point where it would be too dark to see, Harm became aware of someone else. Another presence. He sat up slightly, not wanting to disturb Mac's repose. Sure enough on a rock fifty feet away there was a figure standing, seemingly staring, watching them. With the sun gone, it did not take but a few minutes for the darkness to cloak whoever it was. Someone just out for a walk he decided. Nevertheless he felt a nagging discomfort. If this person was simply walking, he took a large interest in them. Also without the sun the air turned chill. It was time to go back. He gave Mac a light shake and kissed her forehead, putting the strange appearance out of his mind. "Let's go back and warm up with some coffee and a movie," he whispered. "Unless you're tired of me." 'Huh? Tired? Oh of you. Not yet but you're on borrowed time," she giggled, coming more fully awake and even in the dim light could see his face seemed troubled. "You tired of me?" "No why?" "Your face is doing this thing you do in court when you're not sure what your next move should be. Especially when I've gotten off a good one on you." "Well there was. . .nothing. Never mind. Coffee?" "I can't keep up. Yes coffee. Please." "Good." He rolled to his feet and pulled her up with him. "Thank you for a great evening." "It's not over yet," she smiled. "I believe I was promised coffee." He took her hand as they walked back toward their cabins, now and then glancing over his shoulder and trying to talk himself out of the unease he felt. Mattie would have said 'the guy creeped me out'. They were just settling back with their coffee and a movie when Mac's phone rang. She groaned and glared, as if that would make it go away. "You know this is not good," she sighed, gesturing to the caller ID. "Greg maybe?" "Colonel Mackenzie," she answered. "Ma'am. Gunnery Sergeant Mason, staff duty. There's a Lt. Kathleen Hennessey from Gitmo on the land line. She says Lt. Milay told her to contact you or the Commander." "What the hell does Lt. Milay have to do with Gitmo and never mind. Put her through Gunny." "Yes ma'am." "Colonel Mackenzie is that you?" Kathleen gasped. "Yes it is Lieutenant. Now before you even start, take a breath and talk slow so I can get it the first time." "What is it?" Harm frowned, clicking off the TV. "Our wayward Lieutenant has been located. At Gitmo," she scowled. "I swear if that boy went down there just to have a weekend with her, he's a dead man," Harm groaned. Mac shook her head, holding up a finger for his quiet and reaching for the pad. "Go ahead Lieutenant." "Lt. Milay told me to call you. He said to tell you Major Sauls was missing. And that he's trying to find her." Mac opened her mouth to speak before remembering this woman was simply relaying the message. She'd kill Greg when she found him later. "Lt. what's going on there?" "Lt. Gibson…or I guess I should say Major Sauls had a bad run in last night with Lt. Conover. And Lt. Milay seems to think that that's why she's missing." "Lt. Conover is the one who's up for the same position as you right?" Mac asked. "Yes ma'am. Lt. Gib…I mean Major Sauls and I had become good friends. And Lt. Conover didn't like the fact that she was sticking up for me." "Did Lt. Milay tell you anything else?" "No ma'am. Just that Major Sauls didn't show up for her duty today and he'd been trying to find her. And when I told him about Lt. Conover, he ran off to find her." "Okay Lt. thank you for" Mac sighed. "We'll get this sorted out." "Ma'am I know Lt. Conover isn't a nice person" Kathleen Hennessey whispered. "You don't think she'd really hurt her though do you?" "I hope not Lt. But I'm sure going to find out. Thank you. And if you hear from Lt. Milay or Major Sauls, tell them to contact me immediately." "Yes ma'am. I will do that." "In the meantime, stay away from Lt. Conover if possible. If she is involved, you don't need to be near her." "Yes ma'am. And I'm sorry for the trouble ma'am." "Not your fault. I promise we'll handle this." She hung up and let out a long sigh. "We've got big trouble at Gitmo. Greg didn't go there for a weekend fling. He went because Gwen is in trouble." "How the hell did he get to Gitmo?" "I'm guessing our missing Petty Officer had something to do with that. Now the question is how do we get there and find the two of them before something does happen to them." "Let's start by making sure there is a problem." "Gwen didn't report to her duty station this morning. So there is a problem. And I'm afraid Greg had gone after her and gotten in over his head as well." "Why do you say that?" "Because he hasn't called us. Harm if he'd found her or he still couldn't find her after looking all day, I think he would have called us. He would have been frantic by that point." "Suggestions?" "We call the NCIS officer in charge down there and let them know what's going. And then we get to Gitmo as quick as we can." "How quick would you like? With a few strings I can get us there real quick." "You're not talking about…" "Mac the next flight to Gitmo isn't until Tuesday. Yeah we can probably arrange something else but while I'm going to the trouble, let's just get us there quicker." "Harm I am not flying in a Tomcat with you again." "You won't be in a Tomcat" he grinned. "We'll be taking a Hornet." "Rabb what the hell did you put in to your coffee?" she demanded. "Hey I'm serious," he grinned. "You know I keep up with the NAS happenings. They're going to ferry some Hornets there. It'll be a snap." "It'll be a joke," she retorted. "And thank God I don't have to participate. You're not Hornet qualified." "Does summer flying with the CIA ring a bell with you. A few good things did come out of that." ============ "Commander I appreciate this," the squadron commander told Harm two hours later. "We're spread so thin that these routine flights don't often happen this easily." "Not a problem," Harm grinned. "I need to keep up my quals. I don't intend to give up flying before I have to." "Long as you can make the physical," he nodded. "And you've got a ride-along?" "Yes sir. My co-commander at the TSO. And here she is now." Mac emerged from the ready room, flight suit on, helmet under her arm and a smile plastered to her face. "Commander are we just standing around or are we going to get a bird in the air?" "Commander Tipton you know my partner, Buck Rogers," Harm laughed. "Uh. . .can I know what you're supposed to be?" "You're looking at Colonel Mackenzie, aviator in training. The new me. I embrace flying in a fighter. This is a Hornet, not a Tomcat. I'm not going to be sick. Mind over matter. And it's a shorter flight besides." "Right," Harm nodded dubiously. "Commander thanks. Mac, let's do it." "Beautiful night for flying isn't it men," she declared, breezing past the crew readying the Hornet. "Uh. . .yes ma'am?" the CPO nodded, looking confused and spying Harm, came to attention and saluted. Harm returned the salute and accepted the checklist. "She looks good Chief. Nice job." "Yes sir thank you. Should I assist your passenger?" Harm grinned broadly. "Thanks no. That's my pleasure." He took her arm and guided her to the mounting ladder. "You remember the drill?" "Burned into my memory. Both times." "Then let's do it" he smiled. He helped her up the ladder, Mac giving him a long look as she reached the top. "You know Commander if you take a picture it lasts longer." "Next time I will" he grinned. "You sure you're okay with this?" "Rabb get moving. Our people are in trouble." Harm nodded and he climbed into the cockpit. It wasn't long before they were airborne. "How you doing Colonel?" he asked. "Uh just fine." "You don't sound it" he smiled. "Mind over stomach" Mac murmured. She wasn't going to get sick again. And that worked until Harm made a sudden turn, her stomach lurching at once. Despite her attempt to keep from being sick, it still happened. "Mac you okay?' "No" she moaned. "You just had to do that didn't you?" "Sorry. Suck it up Marine. It's not that much longer." "Which is a good thing?" she said as her stomach turned again. By the time they landed at Gitmo Mac was more than happy to be back on solid ground. And promising herself that she wouldn't do this again if she didn't have to. "Okay Colonel let's have you" Harm said as he climbed out of the cockpit and held his hand to her to help her down. "How you doing?" "Once my stomach stops turning and my head stops spinning I'll be fine" she sighed as she gratefully accepted his held down the ladder. She stumbled slightly as she stepped off and at once his arm went around her waist. "I've got you. Now let's find you a spot to rest" As he spoke he led her off the tarmac and to a nearby hanger where he quickly found a chair for her. "Head between your knees and deep breaths" he coached. "You're not going to pass out are you?" "No I'm okay. I just need a moment and then we can go find Greg and Gwen." "Take your time. I'm more worried about you right now." "Harm I'm fine" she sighed as she looked up at him. "You don't look it Colonel. In fact maybe I should just find you a room at the BOQ while I go find our wayward staff." "No way mister. We have two missing people already. I don't need for you to vanish too." "You'd miss me?" he smiled. "I can't run that crazy office without you. And I'm good now." "Sit. A few minutes isn't going to make a difference and at least that way I'll know you're okay." She relented only because her head was still spinning but after two minutes she stood up, glad her body cooperated with her. "Okay let's go. We're wasting time here sailor." "You're okay?" he asked as he studied her. "I'm fine. Honest. Stomach and head are finally calm again." "Okay. NCIS office first to see if they know anything?" Mac nodded. "See if by any chance Greg went there before he went off on his own. I swear I'm going to have his six for this." Harm nodded without comment and she stopped in her tracks. "OK spill it. You think he came down here because he felt Gwen needed him." "Basically yes. Until that's disproved, I'm going to operate under the assumption that somehow he got word she was in trouble. And that he risked being up on charges to come for her." Her face softened somewhat as she thought over his words. "Not unlike another officer last year." "Yeah OK guilty. Point being, sometimes there are things that transcend one's job or duty. The human factor." "I wouldn't be here if you didn't feel that way," she whispered. "Thank you. In case I haven't said it before." "I didn't do it for your thanks anyway," he smiled. "OK NCIS office. And good grief I thought Mayport was hot." "Yeah I was just thinking the same thing," she replied, pulling a tissue to wipe her face. "You're not OK," he accused, feeling guilty all over again for subjecting her to the flight. "I am OK. It's just hot here. Africa hot. I heard that in a movie once. Tarzan couldn't stand this heat. So stop fretting Pilot. I'm good. I'm also not going home that way. I'll be rafting with the rest of the boat people." "Rafting, got it. OK they said there was a shuttle to main post and that looks like it." He set a hand on her back as they walked down the sidewalk and he kept it there as she mounted the steps. "Ma'am, sir, where to?" the young Corporal asked. "NCIS main post." A fast trip later they were delivered in front of a non-imposing red brick building. "I'd give anything to walk inside there and find both our Lieutenants," he sighed. What they did find was an almost empty room and a Petty Officer at the duty desk who did not look up from the magazine she was leafing through. "Sign in with your name and business," she motioned vaguely to a pad on a nearby shelf. Harm and Mac looked at each other in disbelief and Mac opened her mouth to address the young lady. Harm stopped her with a sly smile and bellowed as loud as he dared, "Officer on Deck." The chair fell back with a loud crash, and the magazine followed it to the floor along with a can of soda as she leaped to her feet. "Good afternoon Petty Officer. May we try that again?" Mac smiled with deceptive sweetness. "Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, Commander Harmon Rabb from TSO Mayport. Somewhere in this sea of ineptness are two of our people. And then there's the matter of how you greet visitors to this place. Your commanding officer?" "Yes ma'am. Uh. . .sorry ma'am. That would be Lt. Col. Brewer ma'am. Wait one." She touched a button on her phone. "Sir, there's a Colonel Rabb and a Commander Harmon. . .or something. . .here. Uh. . .to see you sir." A moment later a tall Marine officer came striding toward them. "Good afternoon. Yancy Brewer. What can I do for you Colonel, Commander?" "Well first of all I'm Colonel Mackenzie and this is Commander Rabb," Mac smiled. Prepared to be upset, the Marine's pleasant smile disarmed her at once. "Colonel Brewer," Harm nodded, with a glare to the Petty Officer. "Commander," Yancy replied, but his eyes were fixed on Mac. "Colonel Mackenzie a pleasure. How can I help you?" "I think we have a little problem here" Harm spoke up. "Do you have a few minutes so we can talk in private?" "Commander whatever it is, we'll get it worked out." "Two of our people could be in trouble down here" Harm retorted. "And I'd like someone in this office to start taking that seriously." "Uh you'll have to excuse my partner" Mac said as she gave Harm a long look. "What he's trying to say is we'd like your help with finding them." "Come in to my office and we'll talk." They followed Yancy to his office and when they were seated he looked over at Mac with a smile. "So where are you from Colonel?" "The JAG TSO office in Mayport. We came in on a Hornet." "You fly Commander?" "Whenever I can. And if we could cut to the chase here, two of our people are missing. We want some help finding them since it was this office that blew off the initial problem." "And what problem was that?" Yancy asked as he leaned forward. "A young woman on base was sure she was being stalked. She called us after this office turned her away." "I find that hard to believe" Yancy frowned. "I don't. Especially after the way your Petty Officer out front acted." "Look Commander things are a little different down here. But if someone had come to us claiming trouble, we wouldn't have just turned her away. My staff is not incompetent." "Well right now two of our people are missing" Mac spoke up. "Major Gwen Sauls was down here working undercover to see if she could find out what was going on. We think she called and said she was in trouble because her partner, Lt. Greg Milay, came down here early this morning without telling us. And we haven't heard from him since he got here." "How'd you know he was here?" "He saw the young lady who had originally called us and had her call." "Any clue on what he found out?" "No" Harm sighed. "And honestly the fact that he hasn't been in touch with us at all tells us that he's probably in trouble too." "I wish you'd clued us in on this" Yancy frowned. "They wouldn't be missing if you had." "Look we didn't know who her stalker was" Harm told him. "We want to make sure it wasn't someone involved on base. Major Sauls was going to find out what she could and then come to you." "I see your point but you should still have let NCIS know what was going on. But we'll find them. This base is big but we'll find them." "I want to start at the BOQ" Harm continued. "See if her room tells us anything." "Of course Commander. In fact I'll take you myself. If my office dropped the ball on this one, well I want to make up for that." "Thanks. Mac if you need to sit this one out…" "I'm fine." "Something I'm missing?" Yancy asked. "I got a little sick on the way down" Mac admitted. "Me and fighter jets do not get along." "Don't feel bad Colonel" he smiled. "Flew one time in one of those. Reminded me why I'm a Marine. I like my two feet on the ground." "She's rafting home," Harm groaned. "I think we can arrange something a little more comfortable," Yancy assured them. "And perhaps once we resolve this little matter, I can take you to dinner at the O-Club." "Anxious to correct a bad impression are you?" Harm asked mildly. "And to entertain a beautiful Marine," Yancy replied smoothly. "Come on. My car is parked right out here. So tell me how your first investigator managed to get in here." "We slid her in on TAD orders to investigate Lt. Hennessey's complaint," Mac explained as they walked. "The lieutenant claims she wasn't taken seriously when she reported the problem. To both security and to your office." "Well my office has been in a little turmoil," Yancy confessed. "I lost several of my people to the war effort, so I'm operating with reservists and guys who should still be in training." "Like your Petty Officer at the duty desk," Harm put in. "Whom I'll be speaking to. She gets flustered easily and isn't good with people." "Which of course is why you have her at the front desk," Mac said. "Spread very thin," Yancy sighed. "So let me get this straight. Lt. Hennesey was alleging being harassed?" "More like stalking and intimidation," Mac replied. "So much so that she was considering resigning her commission. Then by luck our Maj. Sauls was placed in the room of her arch-enemy. Lt. Conover. They're apparently rivals for a position that could help their promotion potential. Thing is, one issue may have nothing to do with the other." "Well let's get over to the BOQ and see if we can sort this out. You know this is not the first time there's been disturbances in the women's area. I swear the place needs a housemother." "And the guys don't have problems?" Mac raised an eyebrow as she asked the question. "I can answer that," Harm spoke up. "We just take it out back and settle it." "Like the DI's used to in the old days," Yancy added. "Oh good grief like I wasn't sick enough now I've got testosterone OD," Mac groaned. Yancy drove them to the BOQ and it wasn't long before they found Lt. Kathleen Hennesey's room. "Lt., I'm Colonel Mackenzie and this is Commander Rabb and Lt. Colonel Brewer from NCIS." "Ma'am you came. I'm so glad. I haven't heard anything from Lt. Milay since I told him that Lt. Conover and the Major had it out the night before." "May we come in?" Mac asked. "We'd like to talk to you about what happened." Kathleen nodded and opened the door. "Please. I'm really scared something has happened to them. I haven't seen Lt. Conover either." "So when you called us that's when you saw Lt. Milay last?" "Yes ma'am. I told him about Lt. Conover and he went to find her." "Tell us about this fight Major Sauls had with Lt. Conover the night before" Harm spoke up. "How did you know about it?" "I was there sir. Lt. Conover was trash talking again and Patty…I mean…Gwen told her to stop it. And then Sally pushed her." "They got physical?" This from Yancy and Kathleen nodded. "Yes sir. And I guess now that I look back on it I should have called someone." "Damn right you should have" Yancy told her. "Now just how physical did they get." "Pat..Gwen gave Sally a hard shove back and Sally got mad. And she told Gwen she was going to be sorry for what she did. She took off and I don't know if she ever came back." "Okay we need to start a search of the base" Mac sighed. "And find Lt. Conover first. I'm getting a really bad feeling about this." "Gwen said she could handle it. But then there was no sign of her in the morning." "They shared the room right?" Harm asked. "Yes sir." "She could have come back in the middle of the night and done anything to Gwen" Mac said to Harm. "Of course that doesn't explain why Greg is missing now too." "No it doesn't." "Lieutenant, we may be back for more question" Yancy told Kathleen. "I trust you'll be available." "Yes sir. If there's anything at all I can do to help, please let me know. I really like Pa . .Gwen and I hope she's okay." "So do we" Mac murmured. "Thanks Lt." "Yes ma'am. Colonel, Commander. Anytime." Kathleen ushered them to the door, closing it with a decided click. "I'm sorry that wasn't much help," Yancy sighed. "And I've got a meeting on main post I can't miss. Let me take you over to the motor pool where you can get a vehicle, and please, I'm here to help when I can." "Thanks Colonel. Just having someone on our side is a big help," Harm assured him. "You'll have your people and security both keep an eye out for our two and Lt. Conover?" "Absolutely." Yancy dropped them at the motor pool and with a quick salute left them. "So lets get a car and stash our bags. Maybe someone will hear something," she offered. "We can try the O club. I wouldn't mind some food at this point." "Your stomach ready for that?" he asked and she smiled at the note of concern in his tone. "Yeah I'm fine. You don't even get sick pulling Gs in a loop do you?" "Nope," he smiled and shook his head. "The pukers are weeded out early on." "Funny. Let's get our rooms and then I guess we're going to try some good old fashioned leg work?" "And I'll call both their cells and tell them we're here," he nodded. "Not sure what else at this point we can do. If we have to report them officially missing, the FBI is going to get involved." "Whatever it takes to find them," she murmured. "You know this has to be one of those times when being the boss bites wind." "It's not fun to be responsible for others' lives," he agreed soberly. "Especially of people you like." "Are we getting too attached?" she asked with a wry smile. "Hazard of command. Plus they're both good people. Nice kids," he sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Come on. We need to take a break here. And no matter how much you tell me you're OK, I know you're still suffering from the flight. I should not have made you do that." "I wanted to. And I'm not sorry. It was the fastest way here," she countered. "But yeah I wouldn't mind a cool shower and something for this headache. Not to mention food since I emptied my stomach." "OK let's get you taken care of, and then we start asking questions again. In fact I think I'll head over to Command Support and try to find out who and what this whole promotion thing is about. If you'll be OK that is." "No that's great. And when you come back I promise I'll be ready for food and then to talk to whoever we can." Adjacent rooms in the BOQ were obtained and Harm dropped his bag and wasted no time in coming to Mac's. "May I help you Commander?" she asked, her hand on her blouse about to take it off and now one eyebrow raised. "I uh. . .hmmm. . .I guess I wanted to know if you needed any help," he stammered. "You're very sweet. Now get out." "You sure?" he smiled. "Yes Commander. Now go." An hour later Harm was studying the files of Lt. Sally Conover and Lt. Kathleen Hennessey. Both were up for the same position but it was evident to even him that Lt. Hennessey didn't stand a chance against Lt. Conover. Which didn't explain why Lt. Conover would have wanted Lt. Hennessey out of the way. Something didn't quite add up. He returned to their quarters and knocked on Mac's door. "You decent?" "And if I wasn't?" she smiled as she opened the door. "If our two people weren't missing, I'd say great." "I know I'm really worried about them too" Mac sighed. "Did you find anything out?" "Lt. Hennessey had no chance in hell of getting that position. That she was even on list surprised me. She wasn't as qualified as Lt. Conover." "So what's that mean?" "It just doesn't make sense. Lt. Hennessey said Conover wanted her out of the way because she wanted the position." "Maybe she didn't know Lt. Hennessey wasn't as qualified as she was." "Good point." "But at the same time, this does seem like a little extreme action just to get a position." "Bingo. But it won't hurt to find out about the players involved here. I want to stop by Brewer's office and see what we can find out about our two Lieutenants. But after we get you some food. How's the headache?" "I'll live. It's Gwen and Greg that I'm more worried about." "Me too" he sighed. "It's not good that we haven't heard anything from them at all. Greg would have called us by now if he could have." "Yeah that's what I've been thinking" Mac said softly. "Harm if anything happened to them…" "No we're going to find them and they're going to be fine. I'm not going to believe otherwise." "I keep thinking we shouldn't have sent her here. It should have been me." "Oh yeah and then I'd be having a real stroke thinking I'd lost you. This is bad enough. If it were you, it would be the worst nightmare ever. I wouldn't even be able to think straight." "Well it's not sitting real well with me that's she's here because of us" Mac sighed. "We will find them. Both of them. No matter what it takes." "You believe that? Harm I'm so scared we're going to have to make that horrible visit to these kids' parents." "No. That's not happening. I promise it's not." "Having a command sure does have a down side," she whispered, looking at him, her eyes begging but not wanting to. . . With knowledge born of long years of knowing her, he at once wrapped her in a tight hug. Her arms went around his back as he held her and she squeezed hard. "We're going to figure this out," he assured her, his mouth by her ear. "And it's not going to involve visits or folded flags or anything like that. I don't know what happened to Gwen and I don't know why Greg is not answering our efforts to contact him but we're sure as hell going to find out. My main concern has a lot less to do with how we're going to do that, and a lot more with worrying about keeping you safe." "You're sweet, and if you don't want the Marine speech you'd better try another tact there. On the other hand, the Marine is in your arms so I'm not sure the speech would even work." "Probably not," he agreed affably. "So here's what's going to happen. We're going to try to get some food into you, and if you feel up to it, we'll go together to see Brewer. If not I'm certainly able to check with the man and get some background on these two myself." "Not if I was in a body cast," she declared. "But you're right about the food. That's first. I'm sure I'll feel better after that." Harm took her to the closest dining facility and smiled when she made her selections. No meat. Pasta salad and bread, with jello for dessert. Afterwards, with her insisting she was fine, they returned to Yancy's office. This time they merely nodded to the Petty Officer who did manage to get to her feet. "He just walked in ma'am, sir," she said softly and gestured to the coffee pot in the main waiting area. "Hey I'm glad to see you two," Yancy called as soon as he spotted them. "Come on to my office." "You look like a man who knows something we want to find out," Mac offered hopefully, allowing Yancy to usher them in and close the door. "Well I came across this little bit of information by accident," he sighed, taking a clipboard from his shelf. "Part of the routine reports I get daily. Most of it has more worth lining my cat box at home but this is interesting." He took a second to scan the paper, and when he turned the clipboard for Mac to see, his thumb was tapping at a name in a list. "What the hell is it?" Harm asked, trying to peer over their arms. "List of the brig population," Yancy smiled slowly. "Mac don't tell me," Harm gasped. "Oh yeah. Lieutenant Gregory Milay, Mayport," she groaned. "What the hell for? What's the charge?" "Disorderly conduct, insubordination, DDO." "I do not believe this. On the other hand, if I was looking for you and not getting answers I might be a little disorderly myself." Harm mumbled. "Shall we get over there?" "Yeah but first let's get what we came for. Colonel we're getting conflicting information on Lieutenants Conover and Hennesey. Could you run up their jackets for us please. I keep coming back there's more to this than just a job involved." "Mac what are you thinking?" Harm frowned, realizing she was working on something. "Two young attractive female officers," she smiled. "I think there's a man in the middle of this somewhere too." "Yeah well there's a man we need to be concerned about in the brig," he growled. "No wonder he didn't answer our calls." "We'll get him. In the meantime if the Colonel starts looking into our two women we'll be ahead of the game." "I'm on it" Yancy nodded. "Go get your young man and find out what he'd found out about the missing Major before he got locked up. I'll be here when you come back." "Thank you. We'll be back real soon." Mac and Harm arrived at the brig a short time later and with a flash of their ID's were admitted to the Commander's office. "How can I help you?" Commander Dwight Marvin asked. "I believe you have one of our people in here" Harm answered. "Lt. Gregory Milay. We need to see him right away." "Milay. Oh yeah. The guy who went ballistic on Lt. Conover. She called security but by the time they got there, she'd already subdued him." "Subdued him? How?" "She knocked him out. He's in the medical center being treated right now. But there were witnesses to his crazed rage." "We need to see him Commander" Mac spoke up. "Lt. Milay was here investigating the disappearance of another one of our officers." "That's fine Colonel. But going ballistic like he did wasn't the way to get answers." "He obviously wasn't thinking straight." Harm sighed. "Please. Our other officer is still missing and we need to speak to him about what he might have found out." "Fine. I'm not sure if the victim is going to press charges or not at this point." "Well it would be under our jurisdiction anyway" Mac reminded him. "Now can we see Lt. Milay please?" They were taken to the brig medical center and ushered to a small exam room. "Well Lieutenant you have some explaining to do" Mac sighed as she and Harm walked into the room. "Ma'am, sir I'm so glad to see you. You have to get me out of here" Greg begged as soon as he saw them. "Gwen. She's in trouble. I need to find her. She could be dead by now." "Before we do that Lieutenant we'd like some explanations" Harm said to him. "And we've already got people looking into Gwen's disappearance. So start talking." "She called sir and she was desperate. And I just did what I had to do." "Without thinking obviously" Mac muttered. "Lieutenant, do you have any idea how much trouble you are in?" "Ma'am please I don't care. We just have to find her. That's all that matters." "Chill Greg. Now. From what we understand, Lt. Conover laid you out pretty well." "I don't even remember what she did" Greg moaned. "I just remember yelling at her to tell me what she'd down with Gwen. The rest is a blur." "She obviously felt threatened by you and made a move that you didn't see coming," Harm told him, not without sympathy. "Son you could be in a lot of trouble here. If she files assault charges on top of the disorderly charges." "If I assaulted her, why am I the one who feels like he's about to die?" Greg moaned, rubbing his head. "Disorderly I can understand," Harm frowned, "insubordination and DDO? What the hell Lieutenant?" "Sir I'm sorry. I don't remember. It's all blurred now. Maybe when my head stops pounding it will come to me. I would have to guess I resisted arrest and refused to obey a lawful order." "That would seem reasonable yes," Mac agreed and to her surprise Greg grabbed her arm. "Ma'am please. I'll cop to anything to get out of here. There is something badly wrong down here. Conover and Hennesey neither one of them is being straight and there's more than just a position at stake here. This is something personal. Something that only a man could cause. But I don't even care. I just need to find Gwen right now. She's the priority. Whatever's wrong between them has been there for a while and it's not going anywhere. Gwen could be dead." His final words came out as a plaintive wail and Harm clamped a calming hand on his shoulder. "Lieutenant be at ease. We're going to find her. But we're going to get you taken care of first." "Sir please don't let them confine me here. I'll answer to the charges. No problem. But I have to know she's OK." "Greg I'm serious here. I need for you to power down," Harm said warningly. "I know you've been hurt and I know you're upset. I can relate. But we're going to need cooler heads here to figure this out. So be at ease Lieutenant and that wasn't a request." "Yes sir," Greg sighed, pressing his fingers to his temples. "Now where did. . ." Mac began only to be interrupted by the door opening. "I didn't know it was visiting hours," the doctor growled. "Who might you two be?" "We might be your worst nightmare," Harm replied sternly. Lt. Cdr. Wesley Patton took his eyes off the report he was reading and realized whom he was addressing. "Sir my apologies," he gasped. "Sorry. We're swamped in here. Handling some of the overflow from the main base. We've got a bad case of virus or food poisoning not sure which. I'm actually pleased to be looking at something other than can't keep anything down and frequent diarrhea." "Lt. Col. Mackenzie, Commander Harmon Rabb, JAG, Mayport," Mac explained. "And this pathetic looking creature is one of ours. How is he?" "Slight concussion and a hairline skull fracture. And a headache that won't quit." "Kill me now" "What I am going to do is give you something for the pain and order you to bed. Is he still a prisoner?" "Yes he is, but he's mine," Harm growled. "I'm having him signed over to my custody. This way I can kill him legally." "Thank you sir. Just find Gwen first." "We will. I promise." Greg was released to their custody and with a little help from Harm they made their way to the waiting car. "Sir I'm not going back to bed. Not when Gwen is missing." "Lieutenant you don't have a whole heck of a lot of choice in that matter" Harm told him. "I could turn you right back over to the brig if I wanted." "Sir she's missing. Has been for God knows how many hours. She could be lying somewhere dead." "And you'll be joining her if you don't chill" Harm sighed. "Concussions are nothing to play with. You need to rest. And you will do just that or else. Do I make myself clear?" "Yes sir" Greg muttered as he climbed into the car. "As it is you're still on our bad side" Harm continued once they were inside. "Do you have any clue how much trouble you could be in?" "But you know why I did all this. To find Gwen." "You should have called us" Mac spoke up. "We could have handled this a lot better than you rushing down here to find her. We might have been able to get NCIS looking for her sooner." "I didn't think about that" he sighed. "I just knew she was in trouble and I wanted to help." "Well right now helping means staying out of trouble" Harm sighed. "We will handle finding Gwen." "Sir you need to start with those two women. One of them knows something. Hell it might even be both of them. All I know is Lt. Hennessey told me to see Lt. Conover and when I did, she was ready for me." "You think she sent you on a wild goose chase?" Mac frowned. "I don't know what to think ma'am. I was just so upset about Gwen I really wasn't. Thinking straight that is." "Okay tell us exactly what happened. From the moment you got here." "I went to see Lt. Hennessey first" Greg sighed. "And she was the one who told me that Gwen and Lt. Conover had had a big fight the night before." "That's what she told us too. So far she's consistent." "She told me where I could find her and I went down there and maybe I went a little crazy." "Did Lt. Conover tell you anything?" Mac asked. "She said I was crazy. She said she hadn't talked to Gwen and didn't know what I was talking about. Of course I just thought she was lying and so I went ballistic." "And she went ballistic back at you" Harm sighed. "But this makes me wonder just what is really going on with these two." "I'm beginning to think Lt. Hennessey may have made up the whole stalking thing" Mac sighed. "Just to get Lt. Conover in trouble." "Well that doesn't explain where Gwen is." "Maybe Gwen found out she was making it all up. So Lt. Hennessey had to get her out of the picture. And while doing so, made it look like Lt. Conover was behind it." "So Gwen could be dead" Greg gasped. "No" Mac said at once. "We are not going to think that." "What else is there to think? You said it yourself. One of them wanted her out of the picture." "That doesn't mean she's dead. She could be somewhere on base. Or even outside the gates. But we will find her." "And if we don't?" he said miserably. "Do not even go there Lieutenant," Mac snapped. "Gwen is a Marine. Somehow I'm sure she's handling this. Wherever she may be." "Please sir. Honestly at this point I'll cop to a charge or do brig time or whatever it takes. Career be damned as long as Gwen is Ok." "You want to cop to being in love with her?" Mac teased the young man gently. "Ma'am if it gets her back yes ma'am." "All right here's what's going to happen," Harm said firmly. "You are going to my room at the guest quarters and stay there. You're a lawyer. You do know what confined to quarters means do you not Lieutenant?" "Yes sir." Greg sighed. "I don't want to do anything that's going to get me into a cell either. Not when Gwen may need me." "Then I'm going to ask you to trust us," Harm told him seriously. "Mac and I want her back as badly as you do, though probably for different reasons." "Can I ask what you're going to do while I'm being punished sir?" "First of all it's a time you're resting more than that," he corrected him. "We're going to go see Lt. Conover. Obviously right now she's the one who knows what happened to you better than anyone since you were last seen with her. And of course Lt. Hennesey is in the mix too but we didn't get much of help when we spoke to her." "So you're going to stay put," Mac told him firmly when they arrived and walked him to Harm's room. "You'll let me know the second you know anything won't you," he begged. "No Lieutenant we're going to take Lt. Sauls and fly home, leaving you here to ponder your fate," Harm groaned, opening the door and giving him a push inside. "Sleep. You look like hell anyway boy." "At least it matches how I feel sir," he murmured, eyeing the bed with longing. Mac's phone rang just as she and Harm returned to the car. "I don't recognize the. . ." she began and a slow smile came over her face. "Brady." "Well goody goody gosh," Harm smiled. "Can I talk too. Please. I don't believe he's tracked you down here." "We have a. . .oh my god. . ." she gasped and quickly opened the phone. "Brady hi." "Hi Mac. You're not home are you? And I only ask this with an eye to our plans for tonight." "Brady I'm not even in the country," she gasped. "I am so sorry. We had a major emergency come up and I'm down in Cuba--Guantanamo." "I didn't know," he said quietly, digesting her information. "Well no I guess you didn't since I didn't have enough consideration to tell you." To her surprise there was a snorting noise on his end of the phone. "You got that right," he snapped. "Mac I know things come up. They do with me all the time but I do take the time to let someone know if I have to change plans." Mac's eyes widened in surprise and Harm could hear the tone if not the substance of the caller's words. "Brady I'm sorry," she said as soothingly as she could, feeling anger inside. "I know we had plans, and honestly even when I was getting ready to leave I was trying to remind myself to let you know I had to go out of town but then things got all crazy." "You and Harm?" "Work crazy Brady. Work. Duty. What the taxpayer pays me for, and I'm hanging up now." Before he could reply she had broken the connection and was shoving the phone back into her purse. "You OK?" Harm's concern was immediate and he reached out to take her elbow. "That didn't look like fun." "Never mind it wasn't important." "Why was he calling you?" Harm frowned. "Unless your place burned down there's no reason for him to be calling." "We uh sort of had plans" Mac sighed. "You mean a date." "Whatever. Plans. Date. Call it what you want. Anyway he was ticked I didn't call to cancel." "Probably the first time the great Brady has been stood up" Harm muttered. "And didn't I tell you to stay away from that guy." "Harm don't start please. We have more important things to worry about. Like finding Gwen." "Yes we do. Come on. Let's go see what our Lieutenant has to say." They made their way to the BOQ and soon found Sally Conover in her room. "I hope this is about that lunatic that attacked me this morning," she said as she let them in. "He's crazy." "He's got some misguided concern for his partner. Major Sauls. You know her as Lt. Patty Gibson." "I told him I didn't know what he was talking about. Patty and I didn't have any fight like he said. Whoever told him that was lying." "Lt. Hennessey told him that" Mac told her. "So either you or she is lying." "And I suppose you believe her?" "I want to believe whoever is telling the truth" Harm spoke up. "And right now I'm not sure which one of you is." "Look Lt. Hennessey is a fruit loop. She makes up all kinds of stuff to get attention. Most of time everyone just ignores her because they know she's a little out there." "What kind of stuff does she make up?" Mac frowned. "Anything to get attention ma'am. I'm sure that's why she told Lt. Milay that I had a fight with Patty when I didn't." "Were you aware of anyone stalking her?" Harm asked. "Oh please" Sally laughed. "That sounds just like something she'd make up. Sir, ma'am, I'm sorry but she's full of it." "But she is up for the same position you are" Mac commented. "And she doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell of getting it either ma'am. She thinks she does of course. And maybe that's what the stalker thing is all about. She thinks everyone will feel sorry for her and give her the position." "Did you ever have words with Major Sauls?" "Maybe. But only because she was protecting that wacko. Look Lt. Hennessey did things behind people's backs. Stuff they didn't find out about until later." "Such as?" "Such as trying to make me look bad" Sally sighed. "So I called her on it one day. And Patty or whatever her name was stepped in and told me to lay off her. Like I was the one who'd started it when it was really Lt. Hennessey. I got mad and of course we had words. Big deal." "But you have no idea where Major Sauls might be at this point?" Harm asked. "Commander we had words. That was it. I had no reason to hurt her." "Do you think Lt. Hennessey might have done something?" he asked. "Sir I wouldn't put anything past that woman." "Why don't you tell us how you really feel about her?" Mac sighed, letting her weariness give way to sarcasm. "Ask Captain LeShard." "I'm almost afraid to ask who that might be," Harm sighed. "USMC sir. Kathleen and I with some of the other girls about two months ago at the OClub. He asked her out and she turned him down. Until he asked me and then she wanted him. Long story short sir, she made sure that he wanted nothing more to do with me." "This man is still around?" "Yes ma'am. Still based here I mean. If he's still with her or not I have no idea. You know I thought I could bear her before, but then this one slot came open only because the poor guy had to go home on a family thing and. . .well like with Jimmy, when it was clear that it could go to me, she wanted it. She's got real problems. Craves attention, isn't happy unless she's in the middle of some drama." "Would others back you up on that? Or is this something she's singled you out for?" "Some people are pretty afraid of her and stay out of her way. I tried to tell Patty to avoid her but she didn't listen. And as for Lt. Milay, I did attack him. Either one of you would have done the same. He scared me to death. He cornered me and started demanding answers and of course I used hand to hand on him." "You should have just answered his questions," Mac rebuked her gently. "Did he not ID himself?" "Yes ma'am but he wouldn't be the first guy to flash a badge and then go postal. When I told him I didn't know where she was, he lost it. Are they involved or what?" "Or what yeah," Harm groaned. "The Lieutenant won't come near you again. That's a promise. I just hope you're being straight with us. One of our people came down here and vanished. Those responsible are going to be sorry individuals before I'm through." "Yes sir. Well sir Kathleen had a lot of people fooled. Your Major is one of them." =========== Every bone in her body hurt. But nothing as bad as her head. The sun was merciless, the heat reflected from the rocky terrain making it even hotter. She would die out there. Greg would never know what happened to her. She would die in the company of lizards and scorpions, her body never to be found. Major Gwendolyn Claire Sauls would simply be declared among the missing. ***************** "Harm now what?" Mac sighed. "We're wasting time here. We have to find Gwen. Every second that passes just means we have less of a chance of finding her alive." "I know" he nodded. "Okay here's what's going to happen. We're going to split up. You take the guy and I'm going to go lean on Lt. Hennessey." "Maybe I should talk to her." "No" Harm shook his head. "I'll handle her. I'm going to come down hard on her and maybe she'll crack. Meantime you can see if this Captain knows anything." "All right. You'll keep in touch?" "Of course. And Mac we'll find her." "Harm I'm getting really scared here" she admitted softly. "I thought by now we'd have something." "I know. But we're not giving up. We're going to find her." "Is it worth talking to Yancy and seeing if we can get a search team out looking for her? Even though we have no clue where she could be." "Hold that thought until we have something concrete. Right now everyone knows she's missing so if they see her, they'll contact him." "All right." "Mac it's going to be okay" Harm said softly as he reached for her and gave her a hug. "I promise." He dropped her at the NCIS office before heading over to Lt. Hennessey's duty station. "Lt. Kathleen Hennessey?" "Yes sir." "Commander Rabb from JAG Mayport. I'm here about Gwen. Major Sauls." "Gwen?" she frowned. "Oh you mean Patty. Who is actually Gwen." "Right. I want to know exactly what was going on in the BOQ the other night." "She and Lt. Conover had a big fight sir." "Funny that's not what Lt. Conover told me" Harm returned. "So I'm not sure who to believe here Lieutenant." "Sir she's lying. She has it in for me. She's been stalking me and she's out to get me." "You know that's another funny thing" Harm continued. "I really don't think anyone was stalking you. I think you were making all that up. Just like you were making up the fact that Lt. Conover hated you." "Sir I don't know what you're talking about." "I'm sure you do Lieutenant. Where is Gwen?" "Lt. Conover did something to her sir. I know it." "No Lieutenant, I think you did something. See she was here to find out what was going on. And she did. She found out that you were making up all this stuff. And when you found out that she was going to do that, you did something to her." "Sir you're way off base." "I don't think so," Harm said in a deadly serious tone. "I want answers and I want them now. Where is Gwen?" "Somewhere you'll never find her" Kathleen snapped, partly defiant and partly fearful of the large man now looming over her. "She was just like all the rest. So cute and pretty. Getting ahead simply because they were cute. While I worked hard and got nothing." "Where is she?" Harm demanded as he grabbed her wrist. "Either way you're in big trouble. If you tell me where she is, you might stand a chance of avoiding life inside—or worse-- but so help me if she's already dead, I will make sure you get exactly what you deserve." "She's on the base. You'll have to find her." "I want more than that. Where is she?" "Along the border. Somewhere." "There's seventeen miles of border" Harm snapped. "Where is she?" "I don't have any idea. I just paid him to get rid of her. Told him to take her off like he did that perky little Lieutenant Rush." "There was another one?" Harm gasped. "I don't let anyone get in my way," she boasted. "Angie Rush thought she had it all too." "I do not believe this," Harm groaned. "I feel like I'm watching the Sopranos and I hate that program." Before she could move, he took firm hold of her arm. "All right Lieutenant. You're busted. You're being held on suspicion of being involved in the disappearance of Major Gwendolyn Sauls. And I swear to her if she's dead I'm going to ask to throw the switch on her killer. Or maybe let Lt. Milay loose on her first." "Where are you taking me?" she demanded. "There's going to be a nice holding cell awaiting you honey." ============ Mac pulled up in front of the headquarters of Bravo Company and walked inside. "Ma'am." The young corporal at the duty desk was on his feet at once. "As you were. I'm told Cpt. James LeShard is in charge here. I need to speak with him." "Yes ma'am. May I tell him your name and business?" "Is he in?" "Yes ma'am but my orders are not to admit unidentified visitors." "Corporal what is this uniform I'm wearing?" "Lieutenant Colonel Ma'am." "Then wouldn't you say son that my orders to take me to him supersede any from him?" "Yes ma'am I guess but. . ." "Show me to his office Corporal. If he gives you any grief I'll be glad to tell him I bullied you." "Colonel Mackenzie, JAG Corps, Mayport," she announced as soon as she walked through the door which the young main indicated. LeShard got to his feet, glaring at the Corporal. "And don't blame the boy," she added hastily. "I gave him a direct order to take me to you." "Nichols get lost," LeShard ordered. "Now that you've got my full attention ma'am what can I do for you?" "We're investigating the disappearance of one of our people who was undercover here," Mac replied slowly, watching the man's face for any sign of discomfort. "Your name arose in our investigation in connection with Lieutenants Conover and Hennessey. Our missing officer is Gwendolyn Sauls, or Lt. Patty Gibson as she was known here." A second later she got the reaction she hoped for. "Dammit. Dammit all to hell she promised she would leave me out of it." Mac swallowed hard and quickly looked away, debating on how far to play this man. Especially without Harm. "I told her I wasn't going to. . .she set me up didn't she." Praying she knew what she was doing, Mac nodded soberly. "Yes she did. Now the next question is relating to damage control. How badly do you want to make a deal or are you going to let her hold all the cards?" "I'll show you where she is," he mumbled after a long minute's hesitancy. "She still alive?" Mac asked anxiously. "When I left her yeah she was. I'm not a killer, but then we knew she wouldn't make it back." "Show me." "In exchange for your word that you'll cut me a break." "If you save the lieutenant's life, I'll do what I can for you. That's a promise." "Okay. I'll show you then." "I need to make a call" Mac told him. "But then I'll be ready." "I have your word right?" James asked. "You're not going to change your mind are you?" "You have my word. I just need to let my partner know what's going on." She stepped out to the hall and dialed Harm's cell phone. It was on voice mail and she let out a long sigh. "Okay sailor I don't know where you are but I'm on my way to Gwen. I got a lead and he's promised to take me to her. Call me when you get a chance." She put away her phone and smiled to James. "Okay Captain lets go find Lt. Sauls." ***************** "One last chance Lt." Harm said as Kathleen Hennessey was taken to the holding cell. "Where is Lt. Sauls?" "I have no idea" she retorted. "See I didn't actually drop her anywhere." "Who did your dirty work?" "Wouldn't you like to know?" she smiled. "Maybe Captain LeShard?" Harm offered and he caught the look of surprise on her face at the mention of his name. "What do you know about him?" "Right now he's singing like a canary to my partner" Harm lied. "Lt. Conover told us about you two and she went to talk to him and he's ready to give you up." "He's is not." "You willing to take that risk" Harm asked. "Even if you weren't in on the actual act, you planned it. That makes you just as guilty as him." "You're lying." "Wanna bet your life on it? Because if Lt. Sauls dies, I will guarantee that both of you are going to get the death penalty for this." For the first time Kathleen looked afraid and Harm knew he was getting close. "Fine. I know where she is. I can take you there." "No lies now Kathleen. The real location." With Kathleen in his custody Harm headed back to their rooms at the BOQ, ignoring the voice mail notice on his phone. He knew it was Mac and he wanted to get to Gwen without her getting involved. He would take Greg and once it was over, let Mac in on what was going on. "On your feet mister," Harm said as he walked into the room. "We've got our lead." "You know where Gwen is?" he asked anxiously. "No but I've got the person who can take us to her. Lt. Hennessey." "What about Mac?" "We'll leave her out of this for now" Harm said slowly. "I'm not sure I totally trust Lt. Hennessey." "Is Gwen still alive?" "I'm praying" Harm sighed. "Me too sir. Very hard." "I know son." "And the fact that you don't want the Colonel anywhere near it doesn't inspire me to confidence sir." "So kill me for being over-protective." "Yes sir." Greg allowed a small smile. "So what now?" "We're going to check out Lt. Hennesey from the brig and she's going to show us where they left Gwen." "Where they left. . .sir I don't understand." "Well I don't either. Not completely but they're indicating they took her out into the boonies along the border of the base and left her." "Oh my god. Tell me she was alive at least," he gasped, taking a step backwards in his shock and fear. "My gut says she was," Harm nodded. "But if you know anything about that area. . ." His voice trailed off and Greg looked further distressed. He did know. Heat and rocks and lizards and. . . things he did not want to think about. "Let's go. Now." ============== Capt. James LeShard made numerous sidelong glances at Mac as they drove. The main base was left behind in a matter of minutes, and the few miles made a world of difference. Guantanamo had been carved from the desolation that was the eastern end of the island of Cuba, and once they were away there was emptiness. "Let me guess, this area is used for maneuvers and such," Mac finally said. "Sometimes. Sometimes the Flyboys play here. Ninety-nine percent of the time it's just rocks and lizards and insects." "Charming place. And you saw nothing wrong with bringing a woman--more than one in fact--out here to die." "We do what we have to do," he replied calmly. "I like women and I need money." "Well Captain for the next couple of years you're not going to see a lot of either," she pointed out. "You promised me. Though actually I'm getting some benefit out of it already. I don't appreciate being set up." "My main concern is getting back my lieutenant. After that we'll worry about who did what to who." A few more miles of road passed beneath them and James made a sharp turn that Mac did not expect. "What the hell?" "Yes ma'am this is the place." To her amazement, the rocky road took them beyond the fence line. "I say again, what the hell," she gasped. "We have no authority to be on Cuban soil." "You want to find your girl or not," David hissed. "And I hardly think the Cubans are worried about this godforsaken desert out there. Fifty square miles of nothing is nothing." "You planned this well I'll say that for you," she sighed. "You knew that no way anyone would call in any kind of team from the base in the unlikely event your plan blew apart." "That's exactly right," he nodded with a self-pleased smile. "It's like the prime directive. We don't operate beyond the fenceline." "Something like that. Now where is she?" "Wouldn't you like to know" he said as he suddenly withdrew a weapon. A weapon Mac had not seen nor anticipated. "Captain what are you doing?" she whispered. "Oh come on Colonel. Do you really think I was that stupid? That I would just take you to her and let you find her and then accept my punishment." "I can make you a deal. You don't have to do this." "No deals. See I know that Kathleen didn't sell me out. We had a pact. And I know she won't break it. So all I have to do is get rid of you." "I called my partner. He knows I'm with you." "I tell him you went by yourself" James smiled. "I told you not to go alone. They'll never know whether I shot you or one of the Cuban's did." "You really have it all planned out don't you" Mac said as she tried to stall for time. Time to think. She needed to do something. Only she had no idea what that something was. "Of course. I'm not that stupid Colonel." "Where's Major Sauls?" Mac asked. "If you're going to kill me, at least let me see her first." James pondered her request for a moment before lowering his weapon slightly. "Fine. You two can die together out here." He waved the gun at her and motioned her forward. Mac complied, not sure if he was simply going to shot her or actually take her to Gwen first. Her answer came a few minutes later when she saw Gwen's body lying ahead. She raced ahead, dropping beside her a moment later. "Okay Colonel. This is where it all ends." Mac closed her eyes as she waited for the inevitable gunshot that would come, her only thought at that moment Harm. And how he would never know the truth. The gunshot never came, the sound of vehicle approaching making James look the other way. That was all the time Mac needed and with amazing accuracy, she swung her arm out at him, the gun falling from his hand before he even realized what was happening. "You bitch," he yelled as he came at her, tackling Mac to the ground all the while his hand groped for the gun. He soon found it and a second later Mac was staring down the barrel of the gun. Once again she waited for the gunshot and this time the sound shattered the desert quiet. Only it wasn't James who'd fired. Harm stood but a few hundred feet away and as soon as he'd taken the shot, he hurried to Mac. "Mac thank God," he said as he reached her and pulled her into his arms. "Are you okay?" "Nice shot sailor" she managed as she realized how close it had been. "Gwen" Greg's cry of her name brought them both back to reality and Mac pushed herself from Harm's arms and hurried over to where Greg was kneeling at Gwen's side. "Greg?" "She's alive, but she's all hot and she just keeps mumbling but she doesn't know it's me," he gasped, panic setting in. He had found her, but what if he had done so only to be making funeral arrangements. Harm meanwhile strode across the sand to James, keeping his weapon level. The man was unconscious, blood seeping from a shoulder wound. "I just winged this guy," he called, truth be told he had been prepared to take a kill shot if necessary. "We'll get him back inside the fenceline and call for choppers. How's Gwen doing?" "Not good Harm," Mac fretted. "Heat exhaustion." She did not want to say aloud what she was really fearing. The far more deadly heat stroke that each summer cost lives. "OK get her wiped down. Greg you help. You know the drill. Pour water on her. There's two bottles in my car on the floor in the back. I'm going to put this clown in his. Soon as we make Gwen comfortable in the other back-seat we'll get back on American soil and get help." Mac headed back for the car in which Harm had arrived. Kathleen gave her a long glare from the back seat which Mac quickly returned, saying, "Lieutenant what a uh. . .surprise. Fancy meeting you here. I'm sure you're enjoying your last few hours of freedom." "This is all wrong. All wrong," she murmured. "No matter. I'll just plead for a discharge based on mental instability." "You do that," Mac muttered, reaching in for the bottles, her mind on Gwen. One had rolled under the front seat and with a muffled curse she stretched to reach it. "OK if I get out and relieve myself?" Mac started to refuse permission, then looked around at the desolate landscape. It did not appear she could go anywhere. "Sure go ahead." Kathleen dove for the door on the opposite side of the car and by the time Mac had picked up the wayward bottle, she had opened the front door and was in the driver's seat. "Lieutenant what the hell are you doing?" Mac demanded. It was then she saw them. The keys were still in the ignition. Harm in his haste to save her life had simply bailed from the car. The engine roared to life and Mac grabbed onto the front door handle on the passenger side, throwing herself onto the seat at the same time Kathleen floored the gas pedal. The car jerked to one side crazily and then shot ahead, its tires spraying sand in all directions. Harm heard the noise, and Greg's coinciding shout of his name, as he put Leschard into the back seat. "Harm Mac's in the car with Hennesey," Greg screeched. "What?" Harm gasped as he looked up, his eyes widening at the sight of the car heading further and further into Cuban territory. "I have to stop them." He ran towards the drivers side and was about to climb in when he heard the gunshot. The car at once slowed as Kathleen slumped forward, taken out by Greg's well placed shot. A moment later it hit swerved out of control, hitting a large rock and suddenly rolling over on its side and landing upside down. "Mac" Harm screamed as he took off running towards the car. As soon as he reached it he could smell the gasoline and he knew he didn't have long to get Mac out before the car would burst into flames. He went at once to the passenger side and to his relief the door popped open without incident. "Harm" Mac murmured as she felt strong arms reach around her to unbuckle her from the seatbelt before pulling her from the car. "Right here hone" he assured her as he hoisted her into his arms and started to run. Already the car was starting to burn and he knew as soon as it hit the gas tank it would explode. That came a moment later and the force of the blast sent them both hurling to the ground, Harm doing his best to protect her from the flying debris that suddenly rained down around them. Only when it was safe did he finally push himself up and to his relief Mac moaned slightly as he rolled her into his arms. "Harm." "Tell me what hurts" he prodded gently, his eyes already catching sight of the rapidly forming bump on her head. "Besides your head." "I think that's it" she managed. "What happened?" "Apparently our lieutenant has a skill we don't know about. Sharp shooting. Greg took her out." "Our Greg?" "Our Greg. And we need to get back to him and Gwen and get her and you to the clinic." "Harm I'm scared for her" Mac murmured, her eyes starting to shut as she spoke. "Yeah well I'm scared for both of you" he sighed as he lifted her into his arms and hurried back to where Greg was with Gwen. "Harm is she okay?" Greg demanded at once. "I just reacted when I realized they were going to be out of sight before we could stop them. I did the right thing didn't I?" "She should be okay. I think it's just a concussion." "Did I do the right thing?" "She had Mac and God only knows what she would have done with her" Harm sighed. "They wouldn't have gotten far in that country. Mac would have ended up dead so yes you did the right thing. But right now we need to get them back to civilization." "Yes sir we do" Greg nodded. "Gwen isn't good. She's so hot. I know its sunstroke. And there's not much time…" "Then lets move it" Harm ordered. "Yes sir," Greg gasped and settled Gwen in the back-seat while Harm lifted Mac to the front and buckled the seatbelt around her. "Sir what are we going to do about this mess?" Greg asked softly. "We've got a dead US Marine in a wrecked car on Cuban soil." "Right now I don't think either of those is going anywhere," Harm replied. "And saving the lives of these women is all I'm going to concern myself with." He leaned over the back-seat, looking to where Greg had all but gathered Gwen into his lap. "How's she doing son?" "She's going to die sir." "Wrong answer Lieutenant. Soon as we get back on base I'm calling for a chopper evac. They can meet us along the road." "We won't be able to go with them," Greg fretted, feeling a surge of gratitude as the car roared to life and charged forward. Once inside the fenceline, Harm picked up his phone and called the base. "LTC Brewer, it's Commander Rabb. I need a big favor." THE END To Be Continued in Mayport V.