Hello, hello, hello! Yes, it's been years! Somehow between the lackluster ending that was JAG, a full time job, a new hobby (running, if you can believe that) and other stuff the stories got away from me. I doubt this will be a full time thing anymore but, I had an idea bouncing around my head for a while. We gonna take this one nice and slow. So far, I have three chapters and am fairly busy but, we'll see how it goes. No promises but, I will try to finish it.

As always, chapters will have the titles of songs. Lately, I'm obsessing with Within Temptation.

So here goes, I hope I remember all of the military jargon.

*deep breaths* Here goes nothin'! ;)

CHAPTER 1 - PALE

2100 Zulu
Capetown, South Africa

Staring at herself in the mirror Lt. Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie did not like what she was seeing. The dark circles under her eyes were distinct and noticeable. Concealer just wasn't cutting it anymore nor was the three hour trip to the spa where what should have been a relaxing massage gave her a wave of PTSD. Six months had passed and she still couldn't shake the memory of Sadik Fahd, the terrorist who had nearly tortured her.

It didn't exactly help that her best friend and former partner, Commander Harmon "Harm" Rabb had resigned his Navy career in order to save her. For his bravery, rather than have another medal pinned on his chest, the man was forbidden to return to his billet and instead forced to take a job in the CIA. She barely heard from him since save for any info she could get from Clayton Webb, the CIA agent who put them in this predicament in the first place. It was Webb's crazy mission the brought her face-to-face with a terrorist and destroyed her relationship with Harm.

"Just a moment." She called out from the bathroom hearing a stern knock on the door. "I said, I'm coming!" Mac yelled as the knocks became almost violent. On the other side she found the hotel's manager along with two armed police officers. "Uh. Something wrong?" She cinched her robe a little tighter and was practically run over by the two officers as they walked into her room uninvited. "Excuse me?"

Vincent, the hotel manager took Mac's arm and pulled her out into the hallway. "I apologize for the intrusion Colonel but, someone downstairs spotted a man dressed in a black jacket trying to enter your suite by the balcony. We wanted to check your room quickly before he's tipped off by our presence."

The man wasn't lying Mac could tell by the way he was fidgeting nervously. Hosting the US Military was a big deal to management as was keeping servicemen and women safe. With growing complaints of violence in parts of South Africa, they clearly did not need an international incident on their hands. "I appreciate it but, I am four floors up."

"Ma'am there are many in our country that despise the US Military especially since one of our own was involved in your case. Please indulge me." Vincent practically begged and seemed more than relieved when the two police officers gave the 'all clear.' "Thank you Colonel and please anything you want from room service is on me for intrusion."

Free food? It was the least they could offer and would keep her from having to venture out of her room. "I'll take you up on that, thank you." She closed the door behind them and made sure deadbolt it. As she made her way back to the bathroom to resume her shower however, Mac heard a knock on the balcony door only to find a male figure pressed against the french door panes.

The man was tall, dressed in black and sporting a scruffy beard. She was about to yell for help in hopes that the police would return when the would-be intruders eyes gave him away. "Harm?"