Title: A Russian Surprise
Author: rooster dawn
Alternate Universe, shipper style
Spoiler: Legacy I, II
Disclaimer: The characters of JAG are the property of Donald Bellisario and Bellisarius Production, Inc. Used without permission. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: Mac's road trip to Chechnya to say hello to Harm gives Webb and Falcon an idea.
Feedback is welcomed, it's how we grow.
Please be nice we're all friends here.
Author's note: I've found watching Jag over the years that at any one point, an episode can lead Harm and Mac to the altar. This story takes place at the beginning of season six after Harm discovers Sergei, though Sergei plays a very minimal role in this story.
part 1
Monday
18 Sep 2000
Admiral's office
Jag Headquarters
Harm had been called into the Admiral's office. He was between cases. He had hoped to prosecute the espionage case with Mac, but Bud had been assigned to the case instead. He knew Bud needed the experience, but he really wanted to work with Mac on this case.
It had been a long time since he had worked with her. He had found out a long time ago that life wasn't very interesting when Mac wasn't in it. Sure Renee was fun to be with at times, but she wanted things from him he wasn't ready to give.
She was flaky and very needy. She didn't believe in herself which caused tension between them. It was either talking about getting closer, opening up to her, making a commitment to her or it was about his working relationship with Mac.
Which usually led him to wanting Mac more than wanting Renee. So when the Admiral told him about his new assignment. He was ready to go although he didn't understand why they wanted him and not Mac.
Mac was the one who spoke Russian. She was probably better at interpreting the written law better than he was. He even asked the Admiral why Mac wasn't being assigned the task of reviewing the Russian's military laws.
Unfortunately he was still assigned the task of going to Russia to review their military laws. He was told that while Mac was the better candidate, she was involved a very important case.
The Russian government couldn't wait until the case was over. So he needed to be on the next plane to Russia. He could hear Renee's whining in his mind. He wondered if he could get Bud to explain to her that he had gone to Russia and not hideaway with Mac.
He called her cell phone. He sighed with relief when he got her voice mail. The last thing he wanted was to listen to her whine that he was going away again.
"Hey Renee, I'm calling to let you know I won't be around tonight. I'm going out of town. If you have any questions feel free to call Bud."
Wednesday
20 Sept 2000
Courtroom
It had been a good day in court. Mac had put several nails into the coffin of the officer who had been charged with espionage. She wanted to go home and relax in a hot bath. Bud had wanted to go over some testimony for court tomorrow.
She told him to go home and relax with Harriet and AJ. It could wait until tomorrow. The case was going well. It would only last a few more days. Unfortunately the defense lawyer wanted to talk to her about a deal. She walked out of the building with him discussing the possibility of a plead bargain.
"My client wants to talk about a deal Colonel. He has information he wants to exchange for a plead and a lesser sentence." offered the lawyer.
"I'm sorry Sir, but this case is almost over and your client is guilty. It's too late to plead now. If he has information that is of any value to the government he can use it during the sentencing phase. As of now it has no value with me." replied Mac.
They bumped into a man in uniform as they walked to their cars. The defendant was placed into the car by the MP's, who were going to return him to the brig. Mac was still talking with the lawyer when she heard the car start and then explode.
It wasn't long before the Marines from the security office were there helping Mac and the lawyer off the ground. 'Shit' she thought. 'Now I won't get home for a few more hours. I'll have to stay here and give a statement to the Guards.
I'll have to inform the Admiral about what happened. Why can't life be simple for once. I mean Harm is thousands of miles away. Nothing is supposed to happen when he's away, at least not around here to me.'
Thursday
21 Sept 2000
Russian Law Office
Harm looked around him. This office was a dump. He wondered what purpose it served in the past, it was probably a storage closet. He looked at the files on his desk. How in the world was he supposed to do anything with them?
They were all in Russian. None of them had been translated. It appeared that some went back more than forty years. He shook his head and wondered what he was doing here. Mac would be so much better at this than he.
At least she could read the Russian and speak it. He wondered who was behind this joke. A few years ago it could be a number of people. Now that number had been greatly reduced. It smelled of Mark Falcon or was it Sokol.
He heard a noise. He saw a drunken soldier walk into his office. He went to the corner and pulled his zipper down. 'What the Hell?' "Hey You! Stop!" yelled Harm. The Russian soldier staggered as he turned around.
"What you want? Who are you?" slurred Volkonov. "My name is Commander Harmon Rabb, who are you?" asked Harm. "My name is Capt. Volkonov. I'm the barrister that requested your assistance." replied Volkonov. "What happened to the toilet that used to be here?"
They spent a couple of hours talking about the Russian military laws. Harm assured him that on paper the laws were fine. It was how they were implemented that was all screwed up.
They went over cases going back forty years. They went over a wide variety of cases from petty theft to murder. When they were done Captain Volkonov told Harm about a corrupt General whom he was interested in.
A General who sold Russians arms to the Chechnya rebels to use on Russians soldiers. Harm's interest was peaked. He agreed to go to Chechnya with Captain Volkonov to investigate.
Saturday
23 Sept 2000
Mac called Webb to find out what he knew. It seemed that the Commander had been in touch with him looking for a deal. Webb's team came up with information about the explosive. It was of Russian design. It was set off by remote control.
The remote control device was sold in ten stores to thirty five customers. Webb and Mac spent most of the weekend checking out the different locations where the remote control device was sold.
Finally at one of the last locations they bump into Falcon. He had come to the States to find out information that might help him determine who might have killed the Commander.
His sources told him that whoever killed the Commander might be the same person who might be involved with assassinating his President.
"What are you doing here Falcon?" asked Webb with attitude.
"Hello Sarah, you're looking nice today. I'm here for the same reason you are Webb. I'm trying to find out who kill the Commander." replied Falcon.
"Both of you stop this pissing contest. We should go back to Jag and share whatever information we have. We might be able to figure this thing out quicker." ordered Mac. She cursed Harm for leaving her here to deal with these two juvenile delinquents.
They went back to Jag where they met up with Bud. They went through everything that they had confiscated from the Commander. Falcon admitted to a planned trip by President Putin to the United States in June.
He had planned on touring an automotive assembly plant in Michigan. They discovered that there had been an assassination attempt planned for Putin at Rouge car plant, but the trip had been canceled.
Tuesday
26 Sept 2000
Jag Headquarters
Once Falcon discovered the true intent of the assassin he returned to Russia to consult with his associates on the best way to protect President Putin and how to locate and apprehend the assassin.
Meanwhile Webb was in the Admiral's office politicking. He was trying to get the Admiral to let Mac go to Russia with him to help capture the assassin who killed the Commander who had been accused of espionage.
In reality he wanted to get Mac away from the Aussie mutt. He figured if Rabb didn't want Mac, then why shouldn't he be able to have her. The Aussie mutt wasn't good enough for Mac. He only wanted her as a trophy wife.
He didn't know Mac. He didn't respect Mac for who she was. He surely didn't listen to what she wanted. All he wanted was sex and eventually someone to take home with him to Australia.
"Sir, you should allow Mac to come along with me. We need to find the man responsible for killing the Commander." argued Webb.
"I'm already short one lawyer, I can't afford to lose another." replied the Admiral.
"If you don't let her go with me, it's the same as allowing terrorists to come into our back yard and do whatever they want. It's like giving up before the fight." argued Webb.
"How can I justify this to the Russians, to the SecNav?" asked the Admiral.
"It's in our best interest to have a stable Russian government. As for why Mac needs to go, she's conducting a JAGman investigation. She's only going where the evidence leads her." explained Webb.
"Very well Webb. Colonel, do what you need to do, but be extremely careful. It's bad enough Rabb is over there. Who knows what trouble he has gotten into." sighed the Admiral.
"More the reason to go then Sir. He might need me to bail his six out." smiled Mac.
It didn't take long for Webb to arrange for a plane to take them to Russia. It was first class all the way. It wasn't long before Webb and Mac arrived in Russia. Falcon was there to greet them.
"What are you two doing here Webb?" asked Falcon.
"We're here looking for the Russian assassin who killed Commander Campbell.
"Where's Harm, Mark?" asked Mac.
"He's not here Sarah." replied Falcon.
"Then where is he Mark?" asked Mac, her tone was rising. She was getting a little perturbed with him. She didn't like being talked to like a schoolgirl.
"He's on a field trip to Chechnya, Sarah." replied Falcon.
"On a field trip? He's supposed to be reviewing your military laws and procedures. He's supposed to be coming up with alternatives to make the system better, more current for today's world." argued Mac in disbelief.
Falcon was becoming a little annoyed too. Why did she want to know where Rabb was. He had a job for Rabb to do and he didn't want Sarah to interfere and sidetrack him. Why couldn't she just focus on the matter at hand.
He needed to deal with Webb first, he needed find something to occupy him. Then he could wine and dine Sarah. He was after all better for her than that Aussie mutt she was currently seeing. Be patient Sarah, I'll be with you shortly Falcon thought to himself.
"Sarah, you might as well go to your hotel room. Webb and I need to talk about how you both can help me find the assassin. Alexei can take you to your hotel." replied Falcon dismissively.
"I can take you anywhere you want pretty Colonel. Maybe we can see some of the sights you didn't see the last time you were here ... Sarah." offered Alexei.
"You'll take me anywhere I want to go?" asked Mac.
It came to her that if Webb and Falcon wanted to play spy games with each other, then she would disappear and go looking for Harm. Then they could worry about finding her. She needed to take control.
She would go to Chechnya and find Harm. She wanted to know what he was up to. She knew somehow Falcon was involved. Besides Harm was always where the action was and would be happy to see her.
Maybe he would give her a flyboy smile when he found out Alexei gave her a cab ride all the way from Moscow. Maybe they could find some alone time too. Mic wasn't very good at sharing.
For some reason Mic thought he own her. Just because he gave up everything to come back to the states to be with her didn't give him the right to censure who she could see and spend time with.
She enjoyed spending time with Harm. He was her partner, her best friend for the last four years. They had fun doing things together. Why should that all stop just because she was seeing Mic. She had made no promises to him.
"You'll take me anywhere Alexei?" smiled Mac.
'Oh no.' thought Alexei. The Colonel had a look in her eye he didn't like.
"Yes pretty Colonel." replied Alexei very warily.
"Good, you can take me to the military base in Khandala." replied Mac smiling.
"But that's in Chechnya pretty Colonel." whined Alexei.
"I know where it is, please proceed." ordered Mac.
Later that day when Webb went to his room he noticed that Mac was not at the hotel. In fact she had never checked in. It dawned on him that she might be on her way to see Rabb in Chechnya. He went to see Falcon to talk to him.
"She's on her way to see Rabb." yelled Webb.
"There's too much going on around here to be worried about an emotionally conflicted woman Webb. The best I can do is let the patrols know she's heading to Chechnya." replied Falcon indifferently.
He was only interested in protecting Putin. Sarah would have to fend for herself if she was truly going to meet Rabb.
Friday
29 Sept 2000
Military base
Khandala, Chechnya
Upon arrival at the military base Mac inquired about the location of an American Naval Officer. She was directed to the brig. She wondered what kind of trouble Harm had gotten himself into.
Leave it to Harm. There wasn't a place on this earth he couldn't find trouble. It was like he was a magnet and trouble was drawn to him. She thought she might as well find out what the problem was. Maybe she could help him.
"My, my what do we have here Harmon?" teased Mac as she walked into the holding area.
Harm looked over at her in surprise. The last person in the world he expected to see here was Sarah MacKenzie.
"Mac? What are you doing here? I thought you were working on that espionage case." replied Harm in confusion.
"An assassin killed the Commander. We traced him back to Russia." replied Mac.
"Who are your friends Harmon?" asked Mac.
"Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, I would like you to meet Captain Volkonov, the man responsible for my presence here in Russia." introduced Harm.
"It's an honor to meet you Colonel, the Commander has told me much about your adventures together." smiled Volkonov as he kissed her hand causing Mac to smile.
"I hope you don't believe everything he said about me." smiled Mac.
"Mac, this is Sergei Zhukov, my brother." introduced Harm as he watched the impact of it dawned on Mac.
"Svischevo, Siberia." whispered Mac in recognition. "Your father and ... "
"Yes." affirmed Harm.
Volkonov and Zhukov looked on wondering what was going on. Very little was being said between Harm and Mac, yet so much was being conveyed. It was like they were communicating on a different level that they weren't privy to.
"So how did you get here Mac?" asked Harm. Even though he was happy to see her, but didn't understand why she was here in Chechnya with him now.
"I came to Russia with Webb to work with Falcon, but they were being asses. They didn't want to include me in their little discussion about how they were going to catch the assassin. I asked Falcon where you were.
He said you were here at military base in Khandala. Webb wanted to dismiss me to the hotel room. Falcon told Alexei to take me anywhere I wanted. So I had Alexei bring me here." smiled Mac.
"You got Alexei to drive you here in his cab? You got to be kidding me Mac. He's afraid of his own shadow. I guess it is true that you can get any man do anything you want him to." replied Harm in disbelief.
"Funny, Alexei said the same thing about you Harm. He thinks I only made the trip here because I was in love with you. He thought you would take me into your arms and kiss me." teased Mac.
"That can be arranged." replied Harm daring her.
Volkonov and Zhukov watched with amazement as Harm and Mac bantered back and forth like a long married couple. They were oblivious to those around them. What amazed them the most was how flirtatious they were with each other considering that they were in relationships with other people.
Mac heard a truck pull up outside. She then saw the assassin get out of the truck and walk away.
"It's him Harm, the assassin. He's here to kill Putin." yelled Mac. That drew the attention of the guard standing outside the room.
With a swift move Harm knocked out the guard out cold. He retrieved the keys from him and release Zhukov from the cell. Mac and Volkonov went after the assassin. Harm tried to move the truck while Zhukov worked on the bomb.
Five minutes later Harm was driving the truck to a more remote part of the base. He nearly ran down the assassin in the process. The assassin pushed the remote device, but nothing happened. Zhukov walked out from the back of the truck holding the bomb.
Before the assassin could get away, Mac knocked him to the ground with a punch to the head and a kick to the ribs. Webb and Falcon arrived quickly to secure him and had him taken away. Falcon looked at Webb in amazement.
He wondered how was it possible that Rabb and MacKenzie happen to be in the right place at the right time to catch the assassin who was trying to kill his President. He had thought Sarah had only come to Chechnya because she was put out and wanted to commiserate with Rabb.
"How did they know where to be? They didn't know that Putin was going to be here." asked a befuddled Falcon."It's Rabb's MO, he's always where the trouble is." smiled Webb. Falcon and the Russians would owe him one.
Falcon watched them closely as they talked to each other. The look between them was still there since the last time he saw them two years ago. They were still in love. Why were they seeing other people if they were in love?
He noticed the touching going on between them. It was so subtle that they weren't even aware they were even doing it. And the way they smiled at each other, he wish Sarah would smile at him that way or any woman.