Part 11

Same Time

Washington DC

JAG Headquarters

Back at JAG Jen was getting anxious. She was hoping the Admiral would have called in by now, but he had not. Bud and Harriet noticed that she seemed distracted and wondered what was going on.

"Jen, is something wrong? You seem to be preoccupied with something." Harriet had asked while they were in the ladies room.

"No, Ma'am, everything is fine. I was just hoping to hear about the Colonel. I'm very worried about her. You haven't heard anything have you?" Jen was so concerned that she almost said the Admiral instead of the Colonel.

"No, I haven't, but I think we won't until they come home. I just can't believe the Admiral would just take off like that. I know he has his own family, but JAG is a family too. It makes me so angry with him. I thought he cared for us. Bud and I even named our son after him. He leaves without even knowing if Mac is alive or…. I can't even say it! It's just not possible!" Harriet was getting herself worked up and it wasn't good for her. She was pregnant with twins this time.

"Ma'am, you really need to calm down, it's not good for you or your babies."

"CALM DOWN!" Harriet yelled, then remembered where she was and took several deep breaths. "You're right, Jen, it's not healthy for me. I just can't get over the fact the he would abandon the Colonel like that."

"Well, everything isn't as it seems, and that is all I am saying." Jen said, while staring into Harriet's eyes with a knowing look.

"Are you saying he went after her?"

"No, of course not, Ma'ma, he's on vacation to see his daughter. Why would the Admiral go into a country; that right now no one is allowed to enter. That would end his career if he was caught. Do you REALY think that he would do that, Ma'am?" Jen said all this with the straightest face she could manage. Being a preacher's daughter had taught her how to lie with a straight face and get away with it. But here at JAG Jen found she really couldn't lie to them. They were more of a family to her than her own father.

Harriet looked her in the eyes seeing a flash of something pass by. She then realized that what Jen was saying; was that he was going to help Mac, but was told not to say a word to anyone. Well, Harriet thought. 'She was going to tell the one person who looked up to him as inspiration that was Buddy. He was so dishearten to think that the man he inspired to be wouldn't help someone as close to him as the Colonel. She couldn't wait to tell him, but he was in court right now, so she would have to.' "Okay Jen, I believe you and I'll talk to you later." Harriet said, with the biggest smile she had in a long time.

Jen knew that Harriet had figured out the truth on her own. She just hoped she would at least keep it to Bud and herself.

When she had returned to her desk there was a message for her to call Bethesda Hospital. She wondered what they wanted. She returned their phone call getting transferred to a room where she was surprised to hear from Gunny. "Gunny, what are you doing there? I hope you were not hurt? Are you there with the Colonel and the Commander? Is the Admiral with you? How is Mr. Webb? Is he okay?" Jen kept rattling off question after question.

"Petty Officer, stop! Are you getting lessons from Lieutenant Roberts? I will answer your question, but take a breath." Victor laughed. He had just settled Mr. Webb into his room where he had been asleep for only a few minutes.

"Jen, as far as I know, the Admiral is fine. He and some others left me and Mr. Webb at the airport, though I wanted to help with the search. I was ordered to escort Mr. Webb back to the States. By the way, Mr. Webb is doing fine; he will need to stay in the hospital for awhile time to recoup. It will take some time for him to recover. I haven't heard anything about the Commander or the Colonel. The last I saw of them they were fine. The Colonel was ruffed up a bit, but otherwise in good health."

"Mr. Webb took the brunt of the torture so that she wouldn't get hurt. He is an honorable man, one I would gladly help again. It wasn't Clay's fault what happened, it was mine. I'd give anything to repay Mac and Clay for getting me out of there."

"As soon as I hear ANYTHING, Jen, I will call you. Just have everyone praying for them. Talk to you soon. Bye!"

"Thanks, Victor! This means a lot that you would call to let us know. But, I don't agree with you, knowing the Colonel like I think I do, she would have gone to help rescue anyone… Ah, not to say that she wouldn't help you, just that is how she is Gunny. You know what I mean? Don't you?"

"Yes, Jen, I do. Goodbye!" He was laughing slightly.

"Talk to you very soon, I hope. Bye!" Jen was somewhat relieved to hear what had happened so far. She sat there starring at the phone wishing that they would hear good news soon. She didn't think she would be able to handle any more stress. Harriet walked by, so Jen told her the latest news. She was happy to hear that Gunny and Mr. Webb were home safe and sound, now only to get the rest of the family home too.

Same Time

Wednesday

August 13, 2003

0930 Hours MST

Colorado

George had sent a message to Jacob yesterday and was waiting for him to come back. He had told Garshaw that it was an emergency, to let Jacob know that a friend by the name of Mac was in need of help.

So, here he was in the control room, waiting for the IDC code to open the Iris. When they received confirmation that it was in fact the Tok'ra ID he told Walter to open the Iris.

When he entered the gateroom, Sam had beaten him there. He was hoping that she would be in her lab too preoccupied by some kinda of project to notice the alarms going off. Most of the time they had to page her to the control room, of course the one time when he was trying to do something without her knowing she would turn up.

"Dad, what brings you back so soon?" Sam said as she gave him a hug.

"What, you're not happy to see me, kiddo?" He laughed.

"Of course I am, but I thought you had a mission to go on and I thought Garshaw was missing you?"

"Yes, well I was and she is." He was trying to come up with an excuse, but was having trouble.

"Actually, I called him. A friend of his is in trouble needing some help." George came up behind Sam. "Hey, Jacob, sorry I had to call you back so soon."

"No problem, I was able to get Malek to take over our mission."

Sam was looking back and forth between the two. She could tell they were keeping something from her, but what? "So, who's this friend that needs your help? Anyone I know?" She knew all her dads friends, so if he said no, then she knew he was lying to her.

"Oh, no one you have met."

"Okay! What's this all about? You are lying to me and you have never lied to me before, why now?"

Jacob looked over to George with a look that said I knew this day was coming. He was not only going to mostly likely lose Sarah, but Sam as well.

"Okay, let's take this into my office where the two of you can talk. Then I'll tell you what I know." George said, with a deep sigh.

To be continued…