If there was one thing Harm and Mac had learnt to be a constant in the universe it was that when life seemed to be perfect one could be certain something- *anything*- would crop up to prove otherwise. Sometimes, that factor could be pleasant, most times it was traumatic...and then there were the times when one just could not be sure.
They had spent the most of the morning in court defending a routine AWOL case where a young ensign had disappeared to be with his eighteen-year-old girlfriend who had just found out she was pregnant. It hadn't taken long for the sympathetic judge to acquit the boy leaving the two JAG officers to return to the office.
Mac's mood had been rather sour when she was around Harm, no doubt relating to the fact he was possibly returning to flying, but today she seemed happier and was quite willing to joke with him like she used to. In fact they managed to spend the whole morning without an argument or Mac bringing up his apparent *obsessions* (which he staunchly denied having). So by the time they returned to the office after lunch they were both in reletively good moods...until Bud saw them appear.
The lieutenant was apparently on the look out for them and dashed from the upper JAG offices down to the front entrance, his face etched in worry. Usually the young man was bouyant and chirpy, moreso since the recent birth of his son, so upon seing his anxiety, Harm and Mac were instantly on the alert. In their line of work, they were used to new cases and assignments bearing major consequences popping up abruptly.
"Bud, what's wrong?" Mac asked. "Is Harriet okay? Is there something wrong with AJ?"
"No," Bud replied quickly, rather breathless from the run. He suddenly cast his gaze to Harm. "Sir, there's been an FBI agent calling you at the office. She said it was urgent."
Alarm bells started to ring in Harm's mind. Maybe his 'dear old friend', Agent Novak, had finally found something to pin on him for that murder charge.
"Did she leave a number?" Harm asked, trying to sound calm.
"No," Bud said. Then he frowned in puzzlement as he continued, "but she said her name was Kayla and to come to the house right away. She said you would know who she was and where to go."
The two officers watched as the blood drained from Harm's face. Mac had never seen that look on him save for the tragic time he found out his father was dead after years of searching.
"Alex..." was the only word from his strangled voice. He blinked
and struggled to compose himself. "Eh, I have to go to Baltimore."
He began searching his pocket for the car keys, which Mac jiggled
in front of him. She took in his distraught state and zoned-out expression.
He seemed a million miles away...no doubt thinking of this Alex. She thought
it strange that an FBI agent would identify herself by her first name but
then Harm had friends from all walks of life. What she did know was that
she had to help Harm. He certainly wasn't in any state to help himself.
"Come on, Harm," Mac said leading them to the Navy-commision car.
"Tell me where to go, I think it would be best if I drive." She tossed
a glance to Bud. "Can you tell the Admiral that we're going to Baltimore,
Bud? Tell him it was an emergency and we'll call him when we get there."
With that she slammed the car door shut and drove off, pondering
what she and Harm would find in Baltimore and what role this Alex had in
Harm's life.
****************************************************
The trip to Baltimore had passed in silence other than the occasional
grunt from Harm instructing Mac where to turn. Every so often Mac would
glance at him for a second to ensure he was okay but his eyes were glazed,
not really quite with her. She couldn't help but wonder what thoughts passed
behind his expressionless mask.
"Harm, how are you doing?" Mac asked, turning into another street.
The directions he had given her had taken them into a very nice neighbourhood-
the type with a backyard and white picket fences. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, Mac, I'm fine," Harm, not sounding at all fine.
She hesitated for a moment. "Can I ask you something?"
Harm frowned at her. "What?"
"Who is Alex?"
Harm sighed and looked away. "The woman who was very nearly my wife..."
To say Mac was stunned was an understatement. She had to force herself
from screeching to a halt. She wasn't sure what was more astonishing; the
fact that Alex was a woman or the fact that she had an relationship with
Harm that had at one time been close enough for him to broach the topic
of marriage.
Before she could question him further, he scowled as he pointed
to a modest looking house. "I-it's that one there."
It was not surprising Harm sounded so shaky, the house looked like
it was holding a police convention. Marked and unmarked police cars blocked
the streets, police officers crowded around setting up warning tape and
keeping on-lookers and the press from intruding in their work, and the
most ominous were the teary-eyed neighbours watching the activities from
their homes. As a lawyer and a Marine, Mac had seen these scenes many times
where crimes had taken place. The only question left was, what crime had
taken place?
She barely had time to park the car on the road before Harm had
jumped out to seek the answer to that apprehensive question. Mac followed
him but left him to his thoughts. She wanted to know more about this Alex,
however curiousity could wait. She had to be there for Harm if the answer
he sought was bad. Immediately, they were halted from approaching the house
from a young police officer until a blond-haired woman wearing an FBI-issue
jacket ran over. The woman's eyes were red-rimmed and she looked pale.
"It's okay, officer, they're with me," she explained.
The police officer nodded then left the three alone in search of
other trespassers. Harm and the FBI agent stared at each other for a moment,
as if scrutinizing the other, then they smiled simultaneously. Mac watched
as they embraced, but noted it was in many ways more like a sibling hug
than a lovers' cuddle.
"Harm," murmured the FBI agent into Harm's chest, "it's so good
to see you." She released Harm slightly and moved back so their eyes could
meet. Mac saw the woman's lip quivering, tears pooling in her blue eyes.
"I just wish it wasn't like this...Oh God, Harm, s-she's gone...She's gone."
"What do you mean?" Harm whispered, sounding like a little boy who
knew the truth but didn't want to accept it. "How can she be gone? She's
only thirty-two What's going on, Kayla?"
"Some asshole shot her...I-I found her this morning." The woman
looked down, swiping her tears away. "She didn't suffer, that's a helluva
lot more than I can say when I get ahold of the son-of-a-bitch who did
this to my kid sister." Her grief-striken voice turned vicous as she uttered
her vow of vengeance.
A tear rolled down Harm's cheek but he managed to hold onto his
composure. "I...I don't know what to say, Kayla..."
The woman, who was now identified as the Kayla who had called Harm
out, bit her lip. "Just know that she always loved you, no matter what
had happened. You were the one who she trusted more than anyone else."
She touched Harm's cheek softly. "Come, my mom's expecting us."
For the first time, Harm seemed to remember Mac was there. "Eh,
Kayla, this is my partner, Sarah Mackenzie. Mac, this is Agent Mikayla
Cameron. She's Alex's elder sister."
Not knowing who Alex really was, Mac smiled at Cameron as the two
women shook hands. "Call me Mac," she said. "I'm sorry for your loss."
She couldn't exactly say that Alex was a wonderful person since this Alex
was a stranger, but her own experience of death made her realise the comfort
of others could be a small help.
"In that case, you should call me Kayla. Only my mom and my kindergarten
teacher have ever called me Mikayla." Kayla managed to muster up a sly
smile, despite the grim and harrowing situation. "So are you two *partners*
partners or just work partners?"
"Just work partners," the JAG officers said in unison.
Kayla just nodded- if it had been another time, a less grief striken
time, she would have been mildly amused- as she led them to her black SUV.
"Leave your car here, no-one will touch it. I'll drive since I know the
way."
Mac sat in the backseat to allow Harm and Kayla the chance to talk
easily. This arrangement also allowed her the chance to watch them both;
there was definetely a bond between them though purely platonic. If anything,
Kayla seemed to dote on Harm like one would a brother....or was she just
seeing what she wanted to see?
"Tell me Kally wasn't there when you found the..." Harm trailed
off, unable to say the word 'body', but he was scowling now.
Was Kally another sister? Yet another part of the puzzle.
"No, thank God. The kids were at our mother's place last night.
They weren't there at the time of the shooting."
"Kids?" Harm was rather perplexed, then understanding came. "Oh
yeah, I keep forgetting that Alex had another child. How old is he- two,
three?"
"Around..." Kayla's answer was non-commital, nonetheless an odd
look passed across her face for a brief second. "You'll just adore Kaiden,
he's a great child."
"Mmm...How are the kids taking it? You *have* told them,
haven't you?"
"Yes, Alex believed in always telling them the truth, how can I
do any less?" She sighed. "Kaiden's too young to really understand fully.
He knows his mom isn't coming back."
"And Kally? How is she coping?"
"Like any ten-year-old child, with difficulty. But she's tough,
she'll cope."
Harm nodded grimly. "She is her mother's daughter after all. What's
going to happen to them?"
"Eh...I dunno, we'll have to wait and see. You know how lawyers
are, no offence." That strange look was back. Kayla drew the car up into
the drive of a large bungalow. "Here we are. Mom will be pleased to see
you, Harm. I know it's a lot to ask of you to come up but you were always
like a son to her."
"And she was like another mother to me."
The two officers followed Kayla from the car into the house where
they were met by a maid, who smiled sympathetically at Kayla and Harm.
This intruiged Mac as it went further in showing just how close Harm was
to this family at some point in his life and that closeness had not changed
despite the passing of time.
"They're in the living room, Miss Kayla," the greying woman with
an English accent.
"Thank you, Mary," the FBI agent said before proceeding on.
The living room was magnificent with oriental rugs shrouded over
the wine-coloured carpet and family portraits and professional works of
artistry adorning the walls. Sitting on the black leather sofa was a middle-aged
woman sandwiched between two young children- a girl that was aged around
nine or ten and a little boy who looked about three.
The second the little girl set red-raw eyes on Harm, she ran into
his outstretched arms. Harm caught her and lifted her up, holding her tightly
as she cried softly.
"Harm...my mommy's dead," the child whispered, tearfully. "Someone
killed my mom."
"I know, Kally, I know. But I'm here now and you're going to be
okay, I promise no-one will hurt you."
"Who's that?" the girl asked, referring to Mac.
Harm smiled and replied, "This is my partner, Sarah Mackenzie. She's
in the Marines. Mac, this is Kallinda."
"Hi there, Kallinda," Mac said to the child. "I'm sorry about your
mom."
"Yeah, but Kayla will catch the bad guy, won't you, Kayla?"
"You can bet on it, Sport." From the tone of the FBI agent's voice,
Mac started to fear for the murderer's life. She wouldn't want to be in
his shoes if Kayla got her hands onto him.
Still holding Kallinda, Harm turned to the woman who must be Kayla-
and Alex's- mother. The woman stood up and clasped Harm to her- Kallinda
and all.
"Oh, it's so good to see you again, Harm," the woman said.
"I just wish it wasn't like this," Harm replied. "Ellish, this is
Mac. Mac, this is Ellish Cameron." The two women shook hands as Harm smiled
at the silent little boy. Setting Kally down, he slowly approched the boy,
who was regarding Harm with wide blue eyes. He knelt down in front of the
child. "Hey there, little guy. You must be Kaiden."
"Yes," the boy said, solemnly. He cast a curious look at Ellish.
"Grandma, is he my daddy?"
Mac saw an expression, which was a mixture of amusement and bewilderment,
cross Harm's face when he heard the toddler's question. An expression that
instantly transformed into pure shock at Ellish's reply.
"Yes, Kaiden. This is your daddy."