An Abandoned Warehouse Somewhere In Washington DC, 1655 hrs

...then pulled the trigger. The hammer dropped on an empty chamber and a click. She sobbed audibly unable to hold back her relief. She hadn't wanted to die at all.

"Ah, for all the foolish bravado, you Americans are all alike, you do not wish to die at all, no matter how often you may taunt the tiger. You have no fatalistic leanings such as us Russians, even our children go to sleep on bedtime stories of death and they do not take each day as a granted right. Stalin took that nonsense out of us. No wonder you are considered weak." Her captor taunted. "Your lover on the other hand, if he comes from a family of samurai, he may, however, be a formidable match as an enemy."

She sank to the ground, weeping with relief that breath was still running through her body. Her captor smirked at what he considered was her display of weakness but he had made a critical mistake in thinking she was emotionally broken. Meg Austin had found the critical steel support for her firm determination to resist and slowly stood up again as that iron resolve hardened into place. She would endure anything that the captor would throw at her. And the captor frowned, as he saw her eyes harden, her cheeks still tracked with tears. And Ten' chelovek wondered if he had ever broken her in the first place.

Washington National Airport, Washington DC. Tuesday 1735 hrs

Animal wondered if he should suggest to Delta that they put kids into containers and stow them in the storage section of the plane. After dealing with a gaggle of kids running up and down the aisles during the halfway point of the flight and having to markedly remind himself not to suggest to the kids to go outside and play he was relieved that the flight was over. He'd wondered if Meg had gotten his message. It was interesting that there was no response at all after having left several messages.

"ANIMAL!" A shouted hail made him look up to see Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb standing there waiting for him. That in itself confused him. Where was Meg? How did he get the message and not her?

As Animal walked up to Harm he asked, "Where's Meg?"

Harm's face crumpled in a pained expression,"She's been abducted..." Waving off Animal's frantic questions, he said "You have to come with me to JAG HQ and talk to the admiral." He cringed when he saw Animal's darkening expression and clenched fists. He headed for the baggage carousel and grabbed Animal's duffle bag as it came around and hurried with long strides to his Corvette into the minuscule trunk, he threw in Animal's duffle and carry-on.

"There'd better be a real goddamned good explanation, Rabb!" Animal growled or the chances of Harm's continued survival was very much in doubt. It was a long drive from Washington National and Animal didn't get any calmer as the minutes ticked by. Harm knew the timetable, they had less than thirty-eight hours to effect an exchange for two of the most dangerous sweepers in Soviet Intelligence history for a Navy JAG and no doubt an excellent weapons officer. No doubt the intelligence sweepers' long incarceration had given them plenty of grudges to hold onto with regards to the United States.

"Any rescue mission you set up, I want in on..." Animal said as they drew closer to Falls Church interrupting Harm's mental cogitation.

"What?" Harm blurted out raising Animal's already boiling ire even more.

"I said...Any rescue mission you and whoever set up, I want to be in on!" he growled as he looked at Harm with a glare that could melt steel. "I don't trust anyone else with Meg's safety." He growled ominously as he threw another glare at Harm.

Harm didn't bother to contradict Animal's assertions or his mistrust of others with Meg's safety in mind. He heard the unspoken accusation Animal was throwing in Harm's face: you were supposed to protect her since I couldn't be there and you failed! As they turned into JAG HQ, he ruminated on the fact that was at least partially true. He should have been the one abducted and Meg should have been the one let go and now she was suffering as a result of his actions. Animal glowered in silence as he let Harm park.

An Abandoned Warehouse Somewhere In Washington DC, 1755 hrs

Footsteps sounded as Meg was curled up and trying to conserve warmth. She kept her eyes closed hoping that she could persuade him that she was still sleeping. Unfortunately all that accorded her was another dousing with the firehose leaving her soaking wet, sputtering and shivering cold. It wasn't a situation that was conducive to keeping a positive outlook. And her mood pitched downwards.

"Ah, Lieutenant Austin, are you comfortable?" The man never identified himself nor did he make any attempts other than to be sadistically humorous.

"Very..." She spat out as she shook her head sending water droplets everywhere, but she regretted that as it sent another cascade of aches and pains throughout her body.

"It appears your coworkers and lover are leaving you to die." The man taunted her. Meg called her taunter Silverhair. At least she could then put a name to that sadistic bastard who was trying to provoke her into a complete mental breakdown. "Does he even know where to start looking?"

"He'll find a way. Tosh always does." She taunted him back. "You don't know how he was nominated for the Medal, do you?"

"Perhaps, you can enlighten me then, Lieutenant." Silverhair replied.

"He took on a whole company of North Korean soldiers...by himself!" Meg said.

"Pah, a bunch of Asian barbarians who can barely shoot straight when given glasses to wear." Silverhair rejoindered as he reached into his pocket for something, "I respect the Japanese more than the Koreans."

"Well maybe we'll find out how he does against you..." Meg snapped back then uttered a piercing scream as taser was applied to wet bare skin for a brief moment.

"How charming." Silverhair replied. "Perhaps we will." He picked up Meg's phone and pressed a button on the phone calling up the phone book. Looking for Tosh on the directory he found it, gave Meg a chilling smile and hit Call on the phone.

JAG HQ, Falls Church, VA Tuesday 1820 hrs.

As Animal and Harm met up with the admiral, Animal heard his cell phone ring. Seeing Meg's name on the display he picked it up. "Hello?" He said cautiously.

"Thank you, Commander, for picking up..." A heavily Russian accented voice replied as Animal looked over at Harm and the admiral.

"Where have you got her?" Animal demanded, his voice colored with worry.

"Oh, your precious Meg is quite alright, Commander, however as Lieutenant Commander Rabb has told you by now, she has only a day and a half left to live if you are not able to exchange the two men I have asked for in order to receive Meg back intact."

"How do I know she isn't dead already?" Animal had to hold the phone away from his ear as a buzzing noise and a scream from a voice he all too well knew as Meg's nearly deafened him.

"She is alive, however she has had a rather enlightening experience with electricity." The unknown Russian said. "A taser to wet skin is very good at imparting greater knowledge."

"I'll get you, you goddamn bastard!" Animal snarled. Another buzzing and yet another scream from Meg.

"Ah ah, Commander, just do as you are told and she will be returned to you, somewhat shall we say worse for wear." The voice went chilly,"if you annoy me, you may get only her body back. I will contact you for the meeting place where we will make the transfer. You do not wish to double cross me, Commander." A final buzz and a shuddering scream that went on and on until the Russian cut the call.

Animal looked at Harm and AJ in a state of sheer panic. He needed to do something right that instant. The admiral gripped his shoulders and barked "COMMANDER!" He glared. "You don't even know where to start looking. All we can do is wait for his call and hope to hell Webb comes up with something." Animal looked at the admiral with a question in his eyes.

"He's the Undersecretary of State or so he says..." Harm replied. "My money's on the CIA."

An Abandoned Warehouse Somewhere In Washington DC, Tuesday 1829 hrs

The echoes of her scream died out as Meg slumped unconscious from the electrocution by taser. Silverhair reached a finger to her throat to ensure that Meg's heart was still beating normally and not beating abnormally.

In Russian he said "wake her up in one hour with the hose." Assured that the Lieutenant was still alive, he walk out of the warehouse into the adjoining office.

JAG HQ, Falls Church, VA Tuesday 1845 hrs

The three naval officers were waiting in AJ's office when the door opened and Webb walked in. He looked around at the three then turned to AJ and asked, "Who's he? This meeting is top-sec-"

Animal glared at the government bigwig and snarled. "Commander Toshio Nakamura." He identified himself. "I can assure you, Mr. Webb, that as a squadron XO, I have enough clearance to satisfy your need for secrecy." And got up pacing forward two steps. "And if Lieutenant Austin comes home in any condition other than slightly worse for wear I will balance that balance sheet from your carcass."

"Are you threatening me, Commander?" Webb asked, annoyed.

"Don't consider it a threat, Mr. Webb." Animal leaned into Webb's face making Webb draw back at the cold look on Animal's face. "Consider it a promise...that I will...carry out." The last two words were hissed like the loud exhale of breath from a cobra.

AJ stood to interrupt the two, "Commander Nakamura, Cease! Mr. Webb, as much as I find it amusing to watch Commander Nakamura make you piss your pants, we're wasting time here, have you found anything?"

"I found out that Dmitry Karpov and Alexei Burev are both in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Inside their maximum security wing." Webb stated as he tried not to shiver at the cold look that he got from CDR Nakamura.

"You knew that information and kept it?" Animal snarled, his temper at the boiling point,"It couldn't have taken six hours to come up with just that!"

Webb didn't bother relating the numerous levels of classification and bureaucratic red tape he'd had to undergo just to arrive at that information alone. He continued on with the facts. "The most likely operative that is masterminding this operation is a Colonel in the former KGB. We're not clear as to his name, but we know that his nickname is Ten' chelovek. If he is who we think he is; he has been well trained in torture methods to extract information, he has no compunction about killing and he is a driven man who will go to any lengths to get what he wants. He is dangerous and unfortunately, your Lieutenant Austin has had the very great misfortune to fall into his hands. As a weapons officer more than as a JAG, she is privy to information that is classified. If Ten' chelovek remains unaware of the prize he has in his hands which is very doubtful, Lieutenant Austin is in for a very rough stay in captivity."

"How long will it take to get the two in Leavenworth released to custody?" AJ asked pointedly. "And Mr. Webb, I don't want to hear that it's an impossibility!"

Webb unwisely muttered,"But it is..." as Animal lunged forward, temper flaring. Harm barely got an arm around him to keep Animal from reaching Webb and pounding him into unconsciousness.

"Get me the SECNAV on a secure line!" AJ opened the door and barked at a lingering LN2 who hopped on the phone and did exactly that. In ten minutes the LN2 was back indicating SECNAV Nelson was on the line.

"What can I do for you, AJ?" The SECNAV's voice came clear through the speakerphone.

"I want Dmitry Karpov and Alexei Burev released from Leavenworth and placed into Marine custody at the brig at Washington Navy Yard in DC." AJ stated. "Lieutenant Austin has fallen into Russian hands and is being held at an unknown location within the boundaries of DC and tortured."

"Oh that's bad." SECNAV said simply. "I have no idea whether the CIA would be willing to cooperate on this. Those two are currently in CIA hands as you're well aware."

"Are you aware of Lieutenant Austin's work before she transferred into JAG?" AJ asked the SECNAV. He played his trump card,"Can you imagine the amount of setback we would have if the information that she is privy to in terms of Systems Knowledge and Weapons Procedures were to get out? And the longer she stays in custody, the more likely her captor will stumble across it!"

"Hmmm, you do have a point there, AJ. I will make a note of telling the Director that. But I can't promise anything."

"It's a matter of National Security, sir," AJ said to the SECNAV. "We need to get Lieutenant Austin back and we now only have thirty-six hours in which to make the exchange."

An Abandoned Warehouse Somewhere In Washington DC, Tuesday. 1930 hrs

Meg awoke to find rough hands stripping away the rest of her modesty. Bare naked she was thrown into a large tub full of ice-cubes floating in water. Her head was forced under water as she struggled. Just as red blurred the edges of her vision and she felt as though she was going to pass out from lack of oxygen, she was hauled to the surface. The cold stung every part of her body. And the air on her wet cold skin made her shiver. How long would it take before she became hypothermic?

"What a beautiful specimen you are, Lieutenant." Silverhair was back leering at her naked body. "I can see why your Tosh is so anxious to have you back. I can assure you he was most distressed at having to listen to your screams of a different sort!" His implications were lewd and disgusting but Meg gathered up the shreds of her dignity and gave him a cold stare in return. "I have more questions to ask of you, Lieutenant Austin. You were a weapons officer on the USS Lake Erie..."

"Megan Austin, Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade; Serial Number 926-24-1320/1100, May 26, 1969..."

Silverhair shook his head sadly as he pulled his taser out. "Ah, we are back to that, are we?" He nodded to his men who eagerly pulled her out of the tub. "You have one last chance to give me the information, I seek before I apply a dose of corrective electricity to your skin again, perhaps this time to your breast."

Meg's breaths quickened but she steadfastly remained silent. The two men stepped away from her as Silverhair made good on his threat. A buzz and a primordial scream of agony tore from Meg's throat. The electricity was like a white hot fire coursing through her veins as her limbs jerked involuntarily. Her resolve didn't waver. She knew they were looking for her. It was just a matter of time before they came for her. The white hot fire stopped so abruptly, her limbs didn't recognize the ceasing of the electrical flow and continued jerking for a few more seconds. Silverhair nodded to the men who picked her up and placed her back in the tub, submersing her head underwater, yet again. But Meg resolved to keep taking their abuses and remained silent.

"I see you have tremendous willpower. Lieutenant Austin." Silverhair taunted. "Perhaps a wager; is your willpower stronger than mine?"

JAG HQ, Falls Church, VA Tuesday 1945 hrs

The minutes painfully ticked by as Harm and Animal paced the length and width of the admiral's room waiting for the call to let them know that the DIRECTOR; CIA had granted their request.

Animal turned to Harm and said in a voice filled with pain, "They can't write Meg off...like she didn't exist..." Harm looked at Animal and was alarmed at the level of desperation in Animal's face. If he knew where Meg was, Animal would more than likely arm himself and throw himself suicidally at Meg's captor with the result that both Meg and Animal would be dead.

Just how close were were Animal and Meg? Harm wondered. This was not the reaction of someone who wasn't intimate with Meg. Harm sighed; he knew that he had lost Meg for good. "They shouldn't." His shoulders slumped, "but that doesn't mean they won't." He continued. The CIA ate their own, disavowing any knowledge of compromised agents. Harm had started questioning his own attachment to the young Lieutenant JG. He had misgivings about going in to retrieve Meg given the dangerousness of the situation. Animal on the other hand would move heaven and earth to get Meg back, even at the cost of his own life. Perhaps that was the difference between infatuation and love.

It was a long hour as the minutes ticked away the time waiting on the SECNAV to call back the results of talking to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. When the phone finally rang, it took all Animal had to remain within the bounds of decorum and let AJ take the call. When AJ put the call on speakerphone, Animal leaned forward.

The SECNAV intoned: "The Director stated that he would only accede on one condition, that Dmitry Karpov and Alexei Burev do not live to reach Russian soil." Harm looked at the admiral and then at Animal. "He was most explicit on those terms. Karpov and Burev are too dangerous to live."

Harm stared at the admiral then blurted, "but that's cold-blooded murder!" Animal stared at Harm. His expression conveying his unspoken reprimand How naive are you anyway? Harm looked over at Animal and his blood froze as he saw the lethal I will kill anyone who stands between me and rescuing my Meg expression that was on Animal's face. And right then Harm pitied the Ex-Colonel of the KGB who had been stupid enough to abduct Meg in the first place. He had seen Animal in hand-to-hand action against the Marines in the bar fight in the Globe & Anchor and Animal was playing nice back then. Animal would not be nice now.

The telephone conversation had gone on without Harm's attention.

"Rest assured, Mr. Secretary, there's no problems with that directive on Commander Nakamura's or Lieutenant Commander Rabb's point of view..." the admiral silenced Harm with a cut-throat gesture.

"Very well, it will take twelve hours for release of prisoners, transit and and arrangement with the Marines to guard them while the prisoner exchange is taking place. CIA snipers will be at the location to insure that once Lieutenant Austin is safely back in our hands that Karpov and Burev don't take another two steps alive."

That is if I don't get to Karpov and Burev first...Animal thought, then the bastard that took Meg will pay.

The next twelve hours took a major coordinative effort to bring all of it together, all culminating in a call from Animal to Meg's phone.

An Abandoned Warehouse Somewhere In Washington DC, Wednesday 0745 hrs.

Ten' chelovek picked up Meg's ringing cell phone in the office overlooking the warehouse floor where Meg was tied up yet again by the post, still naked. "I hope you have good news for me." He said by way of a greeting.

"Yeah, I do. You'll have your men back. Where do you want to meet?" The angry voice on the other end was that of Tosh.

"I will meet you at Rock Creek Park." Ten' chelovek said surprised his demands had been met so quickly.

"You had better bring Meg unharmed or I will warn you that I will not take it well..." Tosh's voice was sinister. "If she is harmed in any way, you will receive your men back in pieces with their throats slit. Then, I will come after you."

Ten' chelovek looked at the phone in surprise; was he not the one that was making demands? "You are telling me you will kill my men and me if Lieutenant Austin is harmed in any way? Whatever happened to the American values of chivalry?"

"Let's just say that I may have been born an American, but I have Japanese blood running through my veins and the Russo-Japanese war will look like a minor schoolyard fight after I finish with you." was the snarled reply.

Author's Note: A few more pre-written chapters left to go and then I'll have to get back to writing again. Please read n'review. Thanks. Got to ply my muse...she's a stubborn one: