Thursday

0910 HRS

April 11, 2002

Court Room 3

Admiral Morris was steaming mad. The Colonel had as of yet to appear in court. "Admiral, do you have any idea where Colonel MacKenzie is?"

Standing up, AJ answered, "No, but will find out and you can be sure when I do, she will have a lot of explaining to do." Sighing in frustration, Admiral Morris reconvened for tomorrow morning.

Gathering his files, the Admiral order Harm to go to Mac's apartment to see if she was still there. Harm had been very happy that court was reconvened. His drinking binge last night had given him quite a boulder sized headache. And the dream he had was so vivid.

When Harm arrived he knocked several times before he tried the door knob. Finding it unlocked he entered. He called her name as he searched the kitchen. Still not receiving an answer he walked into the bedroom to find clothes thrown everywhere. As he took a closer look around the apartment he realized that all her photos were missing as well as her fossil collection. He then knew she had left. Going over to the fireplace he noticed the envelope on the mantle that was addressed to the Admiral.

Going back to JAG he knocked on the Admiral's door. Getting a gruff 'enter' Harm came to attention. "At ease, Commander, tell me," AJ asked, as titled his to look behind Harm, "Where is the Colonel?"

Taking a deep breath, "Sir, when I arrived at Ma… the Colonel's apartment I knocked and waited for awhile…"

Getting frustrated with Harm, along with everything else, he commanded, "Please get to the point, Commander."

"Yes, Sir, I open the door to find she wasn't there and most of her clothes were gone as well as all her pictures. I then found this on the mantle." Handing AJ the envelope.

Sitting down as he put his reading glasses on, AJ read it out loud.

Dear Admiral,

I'm sorry to be taking off like this but it is what I need to do to keep safe. I have been getting threatened by someone. I will not tell you who it is. If you don't know then you will be safe. I can tell you this though. The allegations against Amanda have been falsified by the person who has been threatening me. As you could tell by the way I handle the case, I was dragging my feet or doing things to get it thrown out that last few weeks. But with Singer as second chair I couldn't let her know what I was trying to do. I had to do something to get rid of her so I had her 'mess up' by giving her the wrong document to give to you. It worked but I felt awful doing that. Please don't punish her for that. I think getting her kicked off as second chair was punishment enough.

There is so much I want to say to you but I can't. I'm not even supposed to write this letter but I could not leave without letting you know what was going on. I have been getting information on someone that is connected to the military that has done some horrible things. One of those things I found out was done to you. This person took your baby girls from you.

AJ's shocked eyes jumped to Harm's. "How did she know about them? None of you told anyone, I know that, so how did she find out?"

"I don't know, Sir, maybe through her investigating this person she found out."

Going back to reading the letter, AJ continued.

It was a shock for me to find out. It also hurt me to hear your comment about not wanting me to be your daughter.

Well, Sir, I guess I am going to be the one to disappoint you, but who ever called you about what happened to them is true. You see when my uncle died it wasn't a heart attack that killed him, well it was, but he was murdered by the person threatening me. I was suppose to call that day at a certain time but failed to do so. He then had him killed and I then was given another dead line but I was waiting to hear from the doctor at the hospital about my uncle and loss track of time.

I can hear Harm now! Laughing that I, the human time piece, lost track of time!

Harm gave a little smile at hearing that.

Anyway, as I was saying, while waiting I received another call informing me my mother had died from a freak accident. Then had another from the person threatening me, who I'll call Fred, for now.

I then arranged for some help. I knew I could never do what 'Fred' wanted so I enlisted help from my 'friends'. That I've been calling Mr. Steed and Mrs. Peel. Mrs. Peel arranged for me to come out to see her and help me to act as cold and indifferent in front of every one at JAG. It wasn't easy for me to do or say the things I did in and out of court, but I had to be convincing.

A week later I received letters from both my 'uncle' and 'mom'. In them they both basically said the same things. That they had always loved me and always would. They also told me a story that up until I received the DNA proof, from Mrs. Peel, I didn't believe.

They said that, when I was almost three years old, a man by the name of 'Fred' came to my 'mom' asking if she knew anyone wanting a three year old girl to adopt. That she was a twin but the other girl was adopted by another family who could only take the one. They were the Shonke's. They kept her name as Diane. Yes, it was Harm's Academy sweetheart.

My 'mother' jumped at the chance. She had told my 'dad' that she was pregnant before he left for over seas so that he would marry her. He soon left and was coming back after being gone for two years. Oh, he came back in between but my mom said she always told him I was either at my grandmothers', or uncles', house so he would not catch on that she had lied. She told me he didn't really seem to care where I was.

They changed the birth date on the birth certificate so it said the baby was a year younger than she really was as well as the parent's names. Yes, Sir, that little girl was Sera, who is me. Don't worry. I know you want nothing to do with me. When, if I come back alive, I'll be asking for a transfer so you will not have to see or admit who I really am. No one would want me with my history. Can't say that I blame them.

You know it's funny, I always looked at you as a father, and here to come and find out, you are. I just wish things were different.

Could you do me one favor though? Would you tell Harm how much I love him. He may never feel the same way, but I'll never will stop being in love with him.

Sincerely,

Sarah

TBC?