"I just received a call from the Captain of the Dauntless." I grimaced as I recognised that as the ship where Harm and Skates had gone to renew their qualifications. I knew what came next. "Harms missing." The admiral confirmed. "He and his co-pilot skates have gone down over the North Atlantic Ocean his and his co-pilots whereabouts and wellbeing is currently unknown but." The admiral looked directly at me. "He will be fine." I felt Gunny look at me concerned but I smiled wanly at him as Mac asked
"Admiral the next time Captain Michaels calls back can we please get him to call on speaker phone so we don't have to wait for details?" As the admiral nodded I watched Mac flitter out of the room to make the arrangements.
"He'll be fine." I heard myself say to my brother's distraught girlfriend. "He'll be fine."
"I know but I'm so worried," she wailed as I turned my back on her as the phone Mac had, had installed rang. The Admiral pressed some buttons as we ran over.
"This is Admiral A.J Chedwiggen. What is the reported status of The Commander and his co-pilot?"
"We'll Admiral we have a 123 Latitude by 74 Longitude I've sent a hawk out to scout the area."
"That's almost half the North Atlantic." I whispered in a strained voice to Gunny. "Captain this is Colonel Jessica Rabb, How long has it been since his Mayday?" I asked for everyone to hear.
"About half an hour the sea hawk will be in the area by the next hour. So they should only have been in the water optimistically one to two hours before we pick them up." He replied
"Thank you Captain, I know you're doing the best you can it's just Harm's the only family I've got."
"I'll do better than my best as will my crew. The commander is lucky to have such loyal family to be looking out for him."
"Thanks again." There was buzzing over the com line. I picked up the words "we've found a raft. There in the chopper. We're identifying the pilot now," I tensed as the pilot said "its Lieutenant Singer sir." I felt myself fall into Gunny who was automatically pulling me into his arms. I saw a brief flash of Mac leaving the room before I let the tears take hold and cried into Gunny's chest. After fifteen minutes that felt like fifteen hours I stopped crying and rested my head on Gunny's chest as he continued stroking my hair and soothing me. I almost laughed at everyone's astonished faces. Gunny was the last person anyone would have picked to be the one comforting me in a meltdown and it was even more astounding to them for me to have let him. I was almost asleep when Gunny hoisted me into his arms whispering.
"Were setting up a lookout party at Jag H.Q do you want me to drop you off at my house and call you if anything pops up or do you want to come."
"I'll go," I croaked trying to sit up in his arms. But he gently tilted me so I kept lying down as he placed me in the front seat of his car. The ride to Jag headquarters was short and silent. Gunny because he didn't know what to say and me because I didn't want to hear anything. He half supported half carried me into the bull pen and placed me on the desk before disappearing a few minutes later he was back and pressing a hot chocolate into my hands.
"Just the way you like it now drink, sit and I'll bring you some food later." He pushed me down as I attempted to get up. "Sit or I'll take you home," I sighed and raised my hands in a gesture of defeat. Gunny's desk was a great vantage point of the bull pen. I could see Christine sitting in Harm's office on his computer getting frustrated, Sarah and Mick arguing in her office, trouble in paradise it seemed. And I could see Gunny, Bud, and Tinear, setting up a big whiteboard with a map and trying to pinpoint an area where they thought Harm had most likely gone down. I zeroed in as I saw Christine screeching at bud looking like she was trying to strangle him before she stalked back in to Harm's office pushing down the picture of Harm, Mac and Me and turning off the monitor where I knew Harm's desktop slideshow of me was running. I laughed out loud because no matter where she turned there was always the constant reminder Harm loved me more than her. Harm loved me first no-matter what, no-matter who and no-matter where. I knew that whilst he was out battling the sea he would be thinking about getting back to me and to Mac. The phone rang and I looked over at Gunny for permission to listen he nodded before walking me over. From the sound of it I had missed a good chunk of the conversation because Mac was asking.
"If he's been in the water at minus zero for over three hours what are chances of his survival."
"Minimal, he may have already contracted Pneumonia." The captain confirmed my worst fears I nodded trying to swallow the lump in my throat. I felt Gunny's warm arm around my shoulders ready to catch me if I went to pieces but I put on my best Navy face, you don't get to become a fourteen year old Naval Aviator by crying. Gunny and Mac could smell determination like it was wired into their Marine training and smelling my attitude the both grinned at me knowing that their little Navy/Marine was back for business and ready to kick some butt.
"What did we miss?" I asked Mac as we walked back into her office; Gunny had gone back over to their whiteboard planning session finally assured that I would be fine.
"Their calling of the search because of the catastrophic weather conditions." She sighed like she personally thought that the near tornado brewing on the water was no reason to call off the search for my brother. I hugged her causing her to jolt in surprise.
"He'll be fine Mac. Harms to pigheaded to leave this world on anything but his own terms and his own turns would include saying goodbye first." I carefully reassured her but my reassurance came out muffled due to the fact that she was currently pressing me hard into her chest.
'"I know, I know it's just I can't help worrying." I managed to pull my head out of her Marine grip and looked up at her.
"Mac he'll be fine you and I would both know if he wasn't" I said grabbing her hands. "Maybe you can do that psychic thingy and find him."
"Maybe but I'll need your help!" Mac said almost as feverish with excitement at possibly saving Harm as I was. Chloe with her remarkable there's a Mac and Jess moment I need to interrupt timing as always. "Chloe come back later and shut the door behind you." Mac rushed gripping my hands tighter as we both closed our eyes after the door banged shut behind her. I quickly thought about all the good times I'd ever had with Harm. Him pulling faces at me during the amazingly long promotion ceremony, my primary school graduation he'd dragged the whole of the Jag core there looking more proud than all the other parents, Guardians or Siblings put together. Or the time he'd first taught me to fly in dad's old plane. There were all the little things like homework help, throwing sponges at each other after washing the car, painting each other during the renovations. These were all the things I loved about my brother and more. I felt my vision replaced with swirling black tempest seas and a large black life raft and my brother still alive bobbing in the seas looking up at the sky. The numbers 43 and 72 suddenly popped through my mind. And I knew they were the co-ordinates that the chopper would need to fly to, to find my big brother. Mac still griped my hand as we practically flew into the admiral's office. Mac dropped into a chair looking exhausted as I perched on the end of the admiral's desk practically sparking with energy. I quickly filled him in and he jumped up punching the captain's number into the phone and relayed the message and co-ordinates of our vision of harm. The Captain naturally behaved like any other person who had heard the news of Mac's psychic talents.
"Admiral with all due respect I am not going to charge the lives of my crew to a flaky guess,"
"Captain, Colonel Mackenzie has had pervious success with this method. And besides you said you would do all in your power to help me and Harm and if you don't I will Court Marshal you for everything you've got." I threatened. We could hear some conferring in the background before the captain said.
"We'll see what we can do, and Colonel Rabb, you'd be advised not to threaten me with your rank again."
"Yes Captain," I gulped feeling like a small child being told off in a room full of adults. The admiral thanked the Captain before ending the call I flashed a cheeky smile at him as he shook his head at me.
"Don't make me tell Harm," The Admiral warned before I scooted out of his office like my skirt was on fire.
Sorry Guys, A bit rushed and I just got some bad news and my laptop may be taken away from me for a bit so my writing is not up to its usual funny, bouncy annoying state. Don't fear because I will keep writing no-matter what! Review for a cookie :P