ABOUT US 2: Surprise, Surprise

Author: LeE

e-mail: lee_81881@yahoo.com

Classification: Romance H/M

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimers: JAG doesn't belong to me. It belongs to DPB and CBS. I'm just having some fun while procrastinating on homework...

Author's Note: It took me soooo long to get this out, but you've gotta understand my betas are sssoooooo slow!!! LOL JOKING!! IT'S a JOKE!! LOL.. My betas are wonderful ... It was my fault, I kinda got writer's block with this one, but it's finally done, and chapter 3 is halfway done.

I'm incorporating the USS Theodore Roosevelt in this chapter. Now, for those of you who like to follow the facts, the USS TR was the first ship deployed after Sept. 11, on September 19, 2001 for the Operation Enduring Freedom in the North Arabian Sea, and it is currently docked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. It returned to port on March 27, 2002 and its crew was welcomed with a 750-pound cake..:) Since this story takes place three weeks after The Mission, which was aired on February 26, I'll assume that the USS TR hasn't returned from deployment at this point and that the "Henry" is still out there. Here's the second chapter of this series. It took some unexpected turns as I wrote it, and I hope all of you who have sent e-mails asking about the sequel enjoy it.... LeE


CIA HQ
FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2002
LANGLEY, VA

"I don't care how. You find Webb for me, and I want him alive." Putting the phone back in its cradle, the older man sat back on his chair and sighed. It had been a while since he'd embarked on a mission himself. After all, it wasn't every day that the Director of Central Intelligence himself went out to do field work. The road he had traveled to get to where he was now hadn't been easy, and he wasn't one to forget. What he had to do was clear, if only to him. He had a promise to keep; a promise to his best friend.

"You have three days, Webb. Three days to show me what you're made of, or I'm coming after you myself." With this whispered promise to himself he rose from his chair and headed out of his office. Before closing the door, he looked back and settled his eyes on a picture that had graced his otherwise empty wall throughout the years. Knowing that it might very well be the last time he set foot in that place, he retrieved the picture, traced it with his fingers for a few seconds and walked out. The past was finally back to hunt him, to hunt them. It was time to set things right.

AFGHANISTAN
THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2002
UNKNOWN LOCATION

"Webb, are you out of your mind?!"

...an exhausted naval officer exclaimed as he was led down the dark tunnel. The events of the last day kept replaying vividly on his mind. The icy stare on Webb's face was something he'd never forget. The man was on a mission, and it was clear to Harm that nothing he said would make him reconsider. The only question left for him to ask was why? Why would Clayton Webb put his life on the line for anything like this? What could be so important that it could prompt the seasoned CIA agent to betray his country the way he did?

As these thoughts danced in his head, Harm found himself at the end of the stairs. A few candles were lit around the room. The tan colored brick walls and the sandy feel of the almost palpable air made it all feel like a bad Indiana Jones adventure. The questions were still there, but for now, he'd have to concentrate on survival. The more time went by, the more it looked like Webb wasn't planning on feeding him or attending to his multiple wounds.

With an unfriendly shove, Webb sent him to the floor. Realizing the hard surface would probably be his resting place for quite a while, Harm proceeded to make himself as comfortable as he could. His left arm was most likely broken, the throbbing pain in his right leg was almost unbearable, and his head was about to explode. Fear of what he might find prevented him from exploring his injuries any further. All he knew at the moment was that he felt like he'd been run over by a Tomcat, and frankly, the statement wasn't that far from the truth.

"Damn it" Harm muttered to himself as he tried for the millionth time to find a position on the floor that didn't make him see dancing gnomes in his head. Momentarily satisfied with his small accomplishment, he rested his head back against the wall and allowed his mind to relive the events of the past day. Anything he could remember that might help him get out of that godforsaken place would be worth the effort. A wave of fear engulfed him as he realized he didn't have Webb on his side this time. Once again the anger surged within him and he struggled to keep it at bay. How could Webb do this?

"Rabb, I'm not in the mood for wimpy squids who can't take a little tossing around"

"Why are you doing this Clay?"

"What? You think by getting personal with me you might get me to let you live? Think again, *Harmon*. I'm a spook remember? A heartless spy. What makes you think I won't kill you if you keep trying your lousy lawyer tactics?"

"Clay, the people on that ship are innocent. They live to serve their country, just like you do. I can't believe you'd want to destroy everything you've worked your whole life to uphold. What's going on? Tell me." Harm tried once again to get through to the spy whom he had grown to appreciate as a friend over the years.

"I believe I told you to shut up a long time ago, Commander" and with that Webb turned around to look into the eyes of his prisoner. Harm gasped audibly as the haunted look on Webb's eyes gave way to an eerie feeling within him. Had the CIA done that to him? What else could it be? Webb had never been one to let personal matters affect his work. Maybe this time it had gone too far. 'I wonder what happened to him' Harm thought as he continued to look into his captor's eyes trying to decipher what he encountered there.

"Stop trying to analyze me, Rabb. I know what you're thinking. Well, you're right. This is what the CIA does to people like me. The time has come for all of them to pay. All of them"

"Who's them, Clay?"

"ENOUGH!" Clay screamed and pointed his gun at Harm's head. "One more word and you'll regret it"

Harm decided the best course of action for the time being was to obey Webb's order until he could get a better handle on the situation at hand. He was sure something awful had triggered Webb to respond this way. He just had to figure out what it was before Webb's plan entered phase two. Webb knew better than anyone that the United States of America didn't negotiate with terrorists, which is exactly what they would treat Webb as. A terrorist. The thought was almost unthinkable, and if he weren't right there to see it, he'd never believe Webb could be capable of such an act.

Harm knew the USS Theodore Roosevelt was one of the best ships the US had. After all, it had been the first one deployed right after the terrorist attacks back in September. The thought of what would happen if Webb got away with his plan devastated him. He had questioned extensively the idea behind Webb's mission during the briefing, but for every question he threw his way, Webb had come back with a witty answer. Harm was used to that side of Webb, so he hadn't paid much attention to it, figuring whatever Webb wasn't telling him, he probably didn't want to know anyway. The SecNav had approved the mission, so Harm had decided to trust Webb. All he had to do was fly a Tomcat and bomb the place. The mission hadn't seemed like anything different from what Webb would normally be involved in. The CIA had weird ways of dealing with international matters sometimes, and Harm just assumed this time was one of them. His mind went back to three days before, when Webb had briefed him on the situation, hoping he could remember anything that could help him figure out exactly what was happening...


TBC... next part will be out tomorrow...:) LeE