Title : Where The Sea Meets The Sky
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV - and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (Here's the disclaimer for NCIS, as above...I'll leave it in for the rest of the story; makes life easier when I need to 'borrow' Gibbs and his team!)
Rating : G to PG-13
Thanks go to cbw, jtbwriter, beegirl, katydid13, ninjaturtle, capriceann, starryeyes10, kirsten, soonerfan, another tracy, tomcat-all, lori4, carol, eliv.thade, alicia5, fragmentpieces, kesh, claysmvl, chicmns, skyefire, tammy-jet, abigaile, kjflygirl87, anna7, nikki, jbird7986, angelab, pineapplehead, rosa, manda, rinkrat, bard2003, laura carr, tj , sahc and kstorm for their reviews. As before, any reviewers I miss between posts will be added to the list for the next chapter!
To all my readers/reviewers - I'm back! Been a while, I know. Real life, ill husband, writers' block, and general wear and tear, but a great holiday, and an amazing new car to drive! Thanks for your patience, and I hope this chapter makes sense! It took a while to write (re writers' block), but I'm back in the groove!
Replies to previous chapter reviews :
jbird7986 Thanks for your support, and advice on RL. Please keep reading!
anna7 Your review did find me, thank you. Glad to know you are still reading this fanfic, and have read the others. Thanks also for the support, and please keep reading!
nikki I'm amazed too! I have written a few things in the past where I have the story all sewn up from start to finish, but with this one it's fun to write as the inspiration comes! Along with the writers' block, too, unfortunately, but even the best suffer from that, so I'm in good company. Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
abigaile Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
angelab I'm the same re sleep schedules! Bear with sore head comes to mind!!! I like the 'time' thing with Harm and Mac, and I thought it would be fun for it to go out of line with her body going through pregnancy changes! My mother liked coal and pickled onions when she was carrying me, so having a glitch in time seems feasible for Mac!!! Please keep reading!
skyefire Well, I hope this chapter keeps you going too! It started with writers' block and suddenly took over! Hope it's worth it! Please keep reading!
jtbwriter Hiya! I'm back, as you can see! Hope your job-hunt was successful - it's been a while, so I'm presuming you are gainfully employed still. Glennan's questions seemed to come from nowhere, but they do raise questions of their own!!! I'll have to follow this up!!! I loved the timing thing too - I couldn't resist it! Thanks as always!
ninjaturtle Thank you for your comments on 'Informant'. I did ask politely that they stop writing, so now I choose to ignore any and all comments, considering they appear to be more 'ranting' than constructive. Thanks again for your support, and please keep reading!
laura carr Thank you for your support. Please keep reading!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOQ CABIN
USS SEA HAWK
SOMEWHERE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Harm watched as Mac slept on his bunk. They had separated after going to the fantail, with Mac heading for the brig to check on Carson, making sure he was ready to transport stateside. Assured that her charge was aware of his condition of travel, being handcuffed at all times, she had returned first to her cabin, and then turned up at Harm's cabin to spend a little more time with him. When she had tried to hide a yawn behind her hand, Harm had insisted on her laying down on the bunk for a sleep.
"Harm, I can't! I ought to go back to my cabin, but I'm afraid that you'll get your call to fly out and I won't see you again, until we're back in DC!"
"Mac, please, lie down? We've shared quarters before; this is no different."
"It is to us," Mac pointed out, but her attempt at seriousness fell flat as her lips tilted up in a grin. Harm reached out a hand and cupped her cheek.
"Yeah, I know. The only one who would question you being here would be Captain Johnson, and considering he left us alone in his cabin when you first got here, that makes it unlikely, doesn't it?" Mac nodded, and yawned again, and then leaned in to give Harm a light kiss.
"Okay, you win. But if you do get your call to go while I'm here, I expect you to wake me up!"
"Wake a sleeping marine? Are you crazy?" Harm raised his hands in mock horror, and Mac laughed softly.
"You could try your usual approach when we're at home," she suggested, and Harm tilted his head in question. "You could try waking me with a kiss."
Harm shook his head slowly, and at Mac's disappointed pout, he explained his denial.
"If I did that, I'd have to follow through on the rest of the action, and I think it's a little too cramped in here..." he murmured, and Mac giggled. Their usual morning routine 'did' tend to get a bit adventurous, and while Harm's large bed in his apartment accommodated them very well, the cramped bunk on a carrier was more likely to end up with one or both of them requiring medical attention when they fell onto the floor!
Harm settled his chair at the side of the bunk; lifting his legs up to rest on the edge of the bunk, he lay one hand on Mac's stomach which caused her to smile in her sleep without waking. Picking up the orders sheet he had been given, he read the contents as he sat at the side of the bunk. He was curious as to what the actual orders would be when they were received, but for now he was willing to leave the details in the hands of the ship's captain. Dropping the sheet back on his desk, he looked back at Mac's sleeping form, and let his eyes drift from her face to the slight swell of her abdomen rising and falling under his hand. Their lives had never been conventional, and he doubted that anything would change even when they became parents. That thought then gave way to others, and Harm found himself wondering what Mattie's hearing would bring. The teenager had been adamant that even if her father technically 'won' custody of her again, her petition to become emancipated was viable and Mattie knew that her place with Harm, and now with Mac, was not in doubt. He smiled at the thought of Mattie herself - it had been hard being away from her, even though they communicated using IM and emails - and he was hoping that his deployment on the Sea Hawk wouldn't last too much longer.
THE BRIDGE
USS SEA HAWK
EARLY SUNDAY EVENING
"Lieutenant Jorgensen, I would like you to go and contact Captain Rabb. I have received the orders for the flight you're set for. I need you both in my cabin within the hour."
"Yes, sir." Jorgensen had been summoned to the Bridge by Captain Johnson himself, and if she was surprised at the somewhat personal request, she did not show it in her features. On her way to the VOQ cabin she reasoned that it was possible Mac was with Harm, and Johnson didn't want just any officer appearing at the hatch. It was not out of order for either member of a flight team to appear at each other's door, male or female, and so Johnson's request was not that unusual, and if scuttlebutt thought otherwise, let it.
VOQ CABIN
USS SEA HAWK
EARLY SUNDAY EVENING
The light knocking on the hatch roused Harm, and he eased his legs off the bunk, and got to his feet, rubbing at his aching back as it protested it's recent resting place. Mac was still asleep, and Harm let her be, figuring she should have all the sleep she needed. Reaching the hatch, he opened it to find Jorgensen on the other side of the metal door.
"Hi, what's up?"
"Captain Johnson wants us in his cabin within the hour, sir." Jorgensen retained her formality as there were other crew members walking up and down the corridor. Harm nodded and looked at his watch.
"Okay, I'll be there. I just need to leave a note for Colonel Mackenzie."
"I can drop by her quarters, sir." Jorgensen offered, but Harm shook his head, smiling slightly at the attempt at fishing for information.
"That...won't be necessary, Jorgensen. I'll meet you."
"Aye, sir." Jorgensen smiled as she walked away from the VOQ cabin, and Harm closed and locked the hatch as he turned back to look at Mac. Dark chocolate-colored eyes met his.
"You're leaving."
"Yeah, I guess so. Jorgensen just dropped by to let me know. Captain Johnson wants to see us in his cabin."
"Harm..." Mac sat up on the bunk and dropped her legs to the floor. Harm moved over to the bunk and sat down beside her.
"What's wrong, Mac?"
"I should have said something earlier...I didn't want to think too much of it, but now it's getting stronger..."
"You've seen something?" Harm didn't even question Mac's psychic abilities, accepting that whatever her talents were they had saved his life once already, and he would never doubt her.
"More of a feeling. I woke up with it this morning - a feeling of loss, but no actual vision...it just, seems so unconnected...I mean, I'm okay with you being here, flying like this, and I know Mattie is safe in DC, and Chloe is with her grandmother. I have no reason to be worried."
Harm bent and dropped a kiss on her hair as she leaned into his hug. Pulling her to her feet along with him, he lifted her face in his hands.
"If it's meant to be something, it will show itself again somehow. I'm going to have to go now, but I will see you before tomorrow's COD flight."
Mac nodded in silence, and then reached up as Harm leaned down to kiss her softly.
"You know where to find me, sailor, when you get back."
"Always," Harm nodded, and Mac smiled softly.
CAPTAIN JOHNSON'S CABIN
USS SEA HAWK
EARLY SUNDAY EVENING
"Enter!" Both Harm and Jorgensen entered the cabin on the command given by their superior, and came to attention inside. "Have a seat, Captain, Lieutenant."
"Thank you, sir." As both officers sat down, Captain Johnson lifted his gaze from the piece of paper on the table in front of him.
"I have your 'official' orders. It's the unofficial orders that I shall give you now. As you are aware, officially you are on a routine flyover of Saudi airspace. Unofficially we have a contact on the ground who requires identification, and if he's one of ours, we need to figure out how to extract him."
"Just one person, sir?" Harm asked, and Johnson nodded.
"There is no verbal communication, so we haven't been able to identify, and none of the agencies are owning up to one of theirs being 'lost'; all we have is the beacon transmitter."
"Any intel why they would be in Saudi territory?"
"Nothing yet," Johnson replied, and then paused, as if weighing his next words. "We know there are threats against the Gulf capitals, but this is coming from an area away from the Saudi capital, and even further from the other Gulf capitals. It could be a cell trying to distract our forces. You are a target out there, Harm, always, but I can't send anyone else to do this. You are the best I have."
Harm neither acknowledged nor denied the statement, merely nodded his head and rose to his feet. Jorgensen followed his example, and both saluted before turning to leave the cabin. As they both stood outside the hatch, Harm looked down at Jorgensen.
"You okay with this?"
"Yes, sir. A walk in the park," came the response, and Harm grinned. In her place his response would have been the same - had been the same in the past. What some called arrogance, others called a survival instinct. Turning to walk towards the briefing room to collect their equipment, Harm glanced again at Jorgensen.
"Sir?" she asked, aware of his gaze.
"Sorry, just thinking about the mission. Do you have any thoughts on who could be out there?"
"None, sir. It could be a cell, as Captain Johnson mentioned. Seems a little strange, but then after 9/11, anything is possible. I guess we won't know until we're up there."
"That's true enough," Harm acknowledged, and then they broke off conversation as they reached their equipment lockers and began to suit up.
THE BRIDGE
USS SEA HAWK
SUNDAY EVENING
"JAG on the Bridge!" Mac stood to attention and saluted as she was announced by the ensign on duty. Captain Johnson looked up from the map chart and waved her over.
"Colonel Mackenzie? I wasn't expecting you, was I?"
"No, sir. I...I need to talk to Captain Rabb."
"He's airborne, Colonel."
"I know, sir. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
"Important how? Captain Rabb and Lieutenant Jorgensen are on a mission, Colonel."
"Yes, sir. It's just...I may know who they are looking for."
At Mac's words Johnson's head shot up, his eyes pinning her to the spot. Mac swallowed, and then met his gaze.
"Captain Rabb's orders were strictly need to know, for him and his RIO. He had no right..."
"He didn't say anything to me, Captain Johnson. I don't know if you are aware...of certain circumstances concerning the then-Commander Rabb crashing in the Atlantic a few years ago."
"Captain Ingles told me of the incident, but I don't see the relevance."
"I was somewhat...instrumental...in the search for him, for Captain Rabb."
"Ingles told me you had...an idea where he might be."
"Yes, sir. And I have had the same...idea...about who you might be looking for."
"Can you share this information with me too?" Johnson asked, but his face was devoid of expression, and Mac was unsure whether he was going to dismiss her out of hand, or listen with avid interest.
"Of course, sir. I believe the person they are looking for is Stuart Dunstan."
"Dunstan? Why the hell...never mind! Okay, Colonel, I will have your call put through to Captain Rabb. If this doesn't pan out, it's your head on the block."
"Yes, sir." Mac smiled briefly in acknowledgement, and then turned to the communications officer who patched her through to Harm's aircraft.
Mac held the microphone of the headset close to her mouth.
"Captain Rabb, it's Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie here."
"I hear you," Harm responded, knowing that Mac was on an open line with her using his official title. "Go ahead," he added.
"I believe you are looking for Stuart Dunstan." Mac spoke quickly, and precisely.
"Dunstan!" Harm's response was loud, and in the rear seat Jorgensen winced. Harm mouthed an apology, and then concentrated on Mac's voice.
"I don't know why he's there, but it was his face I saw. Just after you left the ship, I..."
"It's okay, I understand. Does Captain Johnson know?"
"Yes, I have just informed him, before I made this call."
"We're approaching the coastline now. ATARS is set to go. I'll make one run, and then see what comes back from that. Wherever he is hiding out down there, it won't be possible to rescue him on this run."
"I know."
"He'll be okay. Dunstan's been out with the recon teams before. He knows survival techniques."
"I'm sure he will. Okay, I'll close for now. I'll see you when you get back."
"Guaranteed, Colonel." Harm responded, and Mac closed the call, returning the headset to the communications officer with a nod of thanks. As she turned her attention back to Johnson, he smiled at her.
"He didn't doubt you, Colonel."
"No, sir. He didn't."
"I guess Ingles was right. You two make a formidable team, Colonel."
"Thank you, sir."
"If you want to return to your cabin, I'll have you notified when the flight gets back."
"Thank you, Captain."
"Not a problem, Colonel. I'm sure I won't be the only one who's interested in why Stuart Dunstan might be out in Saudi territory alone."
"No, sir. I guess not. Dunstan's done a lot of things over the years we've known him, but this is the first time he's gone alone."
"Maybe the exploits of you and the Captain have rubbed off on him, Colonel."
"I hope not, sir. At least, not too much. We might want to throttle the man sometimes, but we'd never wish anything to really happen to him."
"I'm sure he knows that, Colonel. Whatever made him go out there, I'm sure it's a very good reason."
"I hope so." Mac nodded in agreement, and then turned to leave the bridge. There was nothing more she could do or say until Harm returned.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be continued
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV - and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (Here's the disclaimer for NCIS, as above...I'll leave it in for the rest of the story; makes life easier when I need to 'borrow' Gibbs and his team!)
Rating : G to PG-13
Thanks go to cbw, jtbwriter, beegirl, katydid13, ninjaturtle, capriceann, starryeyes10, kirsten, soonerfan, another tracy, tomcat-all, lori4, carol, eliv.thade, alicia5, fragmentpieces, kesh, claysmvl, chicmns, skyefire, tammy-jet, abigaile, kjflygirl87, anna7, nikki, jbird7986, angelab, pineapplehead, rosa, manda, rinkrat, bard2003, laura carr, tj , sahc and kstorm for their reviews. As before, any reviewers I miss between posts will be added to the list for the next chapter!
To all my readers/reviewers - I'm back! Been a while, I know. Real life, ill husband, writers' block, and general wear and tear, but a great holiday, and an amazing new car to drive! Thanks for your patience, and I hope this chapter makes sense! It took a while to write (re writers' block), but I'm back in the groove!
Replies to previous chapter reviews :
jbird7986 Thanks for your support, and advice on RL. Please keep reading!
anna7 Your review did find me, thank you. Glad to know you are still reading this fanfic, and have read the others. Thanks also for the support, and please keep reading!
nikki I'm amazed too! I have written a few things in the past where I have the story all sewn up from start to finish, but with this one it's fun to write as the inspiration comes! Along with the writers' block, too, unfortunately, but even the best suffer from that, so I'm in good company. Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
abigaile Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
angelab I'm the same re sleep schedules! Bear with sore head comes to mind!!! I like the 'time' thing with Harm and Mac, and I thought it would be fun for it to go out of line with her body going through pregnancy changes! My mother liked coal and pickled onions when she was carrying me, so having a glitch in time seems feasible for Mac!!! Please keep reading!
skyefire Well, I hope this chapter keeps you going too! It started with writers' block and suddenly took over! Hope it's worth it! Please keep reading!
jtbwriter Hiya! I'm back, as you can see! Hope your job-hunt was successful - it's been a while, so I'm presuming you are gainfully employed still. Glennan's questions seemed to come from nowhere, but they do raise questions of their own!!! I'll have to follow this up!!! I loved the timing thing too - I couldn't resist it! Thanks as always!
ninjaturtle Thank you for your comments on 'Informant'. I did ask politely that they stop writing, so now I choose to ignore any and all comments, considering they appear to be more 'ranting' than constructive. Thanks again for your support, and please keep reading!
laura carr Thank you for your support. Please keep reading!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOQ CABIN
USS SEA HAWK
SOMEWHERE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Harm watched as Mac slept on his bunk. They had separated after going to the fantail, with Mac heading for the brig to check on Carson, making sure he was ready to transport stateside. Assured that her charge was aware of his condition of travel, being handcuffed at all times, she had returned first to her cabin, and then turned up at Harm's cabin to spend a little more time with him. When she had tried to hide a yawn behind her hand, Harm had insisted on her laying down on the bunk for a sleep.
"Harm, I can't! I ought to go back to my cabin, but I'm afraid that you'll get your call to fly out and I won't see you again, until we're back in DC!"
"Mac, please, lie down? We've shared quarters before; this is no different."
"It is to us," Mac pointed out, but her attempt at seriousness fell flat as her lips tilted up in a grin. Harm reached out a hand and cupped her cheek.
"Yeah, I know. The only one who would question you being here would be Captain Johnson, and considering he left us alone in his cabin when you first got here, that makes it unlikely, doesn't it?" Mac nodded, and yawned again, and then leaned in to give Harm a light kiss.
"Okay, you win. But if you do get your call to go while I'm here, I expect you to wake me up!"
"Wake a sleeping marine? Are you crazy?" Harm raised his hands in mock horror, and Mac laughed softly.
"You could try your usual approach when we're at home," she suggested, and Harm tilted his head in question. "You could try waking me with a kiss."
Harm shook his head slowly, and at Mac's disappointed pout, he explained his denial.
"If I did that, I'd have to follow through on the rest of the action, and I think it's a little too cramped in here..." he murmured, and Mac giggled. Their usual morning routine 'did' tend to get a bit adventurous, and while Harm's large bed in his apartment accommodated them very well, the cramped bunk on a carrier was more likely to end up with one or both of them requiring medical attention when they fell onto the floor!
Harm settled his chair at the side of the bunk; lifting his legs up to rest on the edge of the bunk, he lay one hand on Mac's stomach which caused her to smile in her sleep without waking. Picking up the orders sheet he had been given, he read the contents as he sat at the side of the bunk. He was curious as to what the actual orders would be when they were received, but for now he was willing to leave the details in the hands of the ship's captain. Dropping the sheet back on his desk, he looked back at Mac's sleeping form, and let his eyes drift from her face to the slight swell of her abdomen rising and falling under his hand. Their lives had never been conventional, and he doubted that anything would change even when they became parents. That thought then gave way to others, and Harm found himself wondering what Mattie's hearing would bring. The teenager had been adamant that even if her father technically 'won' custody of her again, her petition to become emancipated was viable and Mattie knew that her place with Harm, and now with Mac, was not in doubt. He smiled at the thought of Mattie herself - it had been hard being away from her, even though they communicated using IM and emails - and he was hoping that his deployment on the Sea Hawk wouldn't last too much longer.
THE BRIDGE
USS SEA HAWK
EARLY SUNDAY EVENING
"Lieutenant Jorgensen, I would like you to go and contact Captain Rabb. I have received the orders for the flight you're set for. I need you both in my cabin within the hour."
"Yes, sir." Jorgensen had been summoned to the Bridge by Captain Johnson himself, and if she was surprised at the somewhat personal request, she did not show it in her features. On her way to the VOQ cabin she reasoned that it was possible Mac was with Harm, and Johnson didn't want just any officer appearing at the hatch. It was not out of order for either member of a flight team to appear at each other's door, male or female, and so Johnson's request was not that unusual, and if scuttlebutt thought otherwise, let it.
VOQ CABIN
USS SEA HAWK
EARLY SUNDAY EVENING
The light knocking on the hatch roused Harm, and he eased his legs off the bunk, and got to his feet, rubbing at his aching back as it protested it's recent resting place. Mac was still asleep, and Harm let her be, figuring she should have all the sleep she needed. Reaching the hatch, he opened it to find Jorgensen on the other side of the metal door.
"Hi, what's up?"
"Captain Johnson wants us in his cabin within the hour, sir." Jorgensen retained her formality as there were other crew members walking up and down the corridor. Harm nodded and looked at his watch.
"Okay, I'll be there. I just need to leave a note for Colonel Mackenzie."
"I can drop by her quarters, sir." Jorgensen offered, but Harm shook his head, smiling slightly at the attempt at fishing for information.
"That...won't be necessary, Jorgensen. I'll meet you."
"Aye, sir." Jorgensen smiled as she walked away from the VOQ cabin, and Harm closed and locked the hatch as he turned back to look at Mac. Dark chocolate-colored eyes met his.
"You're leaving."
"Yeah, I guess so. Jorgensen just dropped by to let me know. Captain Johnson wants to see us in his cabin."
"Harm..." Mac sat up on the bunk and dropped her legs to the floor. Harm moved over to the bunk and sat down beside her.
"What's wrong, Mac?"
"I should have said something earlier...I didn't want to think too much of it, but now it's getting stronger..."
"You've seen something?" Harm didn't even question Mac's psychic abilities, accepting that whatever her talents were they had saved his life once already, and he would never doubt her.
"More of a feeling. I woke up with it this morning - a feeling of loss, but no actual vision...it just, seems so unconnected...I mean, I'm okay with you being here, flying like this, and I know Mattie is safe in DC, and Chloe is with her grandmother. I have no reason to be worried."
Harm bent and dropped a kiss on her hair as she leaned into his hug. Pulling her to her feet along with him, he lifted her face in his hands.
"If it's meant to be something, it will show itself again somehow. I'm going to have to go now, but I will see you before tomorrow's COD flight."
Mac nodded in silence, and then reached up as Harm leaned down to kiss her softly.
"You know where to find me, sailor, when you get back."
"Always," Harm nodded, and Mac smiled softly.
CAPTAIN JOHNSON'S CABIN
USS SEA HAWK
EARLY SUNDAY EVENING
"Enter!" Both Harm and Jorgensen entered the cabin on the command given by their superior, and came to attention inside. "Have a seat, Captain, Lieutenant."
"Thank you, sir." As both officers sat down, Captain Johnson lifted his gaze from the piece of paper on the table in front of him.
"I have your 'official' orders. It's the unofficial orders that I shall give you now. As you are aware, officially you are on a routine flyover of Saudi airspace. Unofficially we have a contact on the ground who requires identification, and if he's one of ours, we need to figure out how to extract him."
"Just one person, sir?" Harm asked, and Johnson nodded.
"There is no verbal communication, so we haven't been able to identify, and none of the agencies are owning up to one of theirs being 'lost'; all we have is the beacon transmitter."
"Any intel why they would be in Saudi territory?"
"Nothing yet," Johnson replied, and then paused, as if weighing his next words. "We know there are threats against the Gulf capitals, but this is coming from an area away from the Saudi capital, and even further from the other Gulf capitals. It could be a cell trying to distract our forces. You are a target out there, Harm, always, but I can't send anyone else to do this. You are the best I have."
Harm neither acknowledged nor denied the statement, merely nodded his head and rose to his feet. Jorgensen followed his example, and both saluted before turning to leave the cabin. As they both stood outside the hatch, Harm looked down at Jorgensen.
"You okay with this?"
"Yes, sir. A walk in the park," came the response, and Harm grinned. In her place his response would have been the same - had been the same in the past. What some called arrogance, others called a survival instinct. Turning to walk towards the briefing room to collect their equipment, Harm glanced again at Jorgensen.
"Sir?" she asked, aware of his gaze.
"Sorry, just thinking about the mission. Do you have any thoughts on who could be out there?"
"None, sir. It could be a cell, as Captain Johnson mentioned. Seems a little strange, but then after 9/11, anything is possible. I guess we won't know until we're up there."
"That's true enough," Harm acknowledged, and then they broke off conversation as they reached their equipment lockers and began to suit up.
THE BRIDGE
USS SEA HAWK
SUNDAY EVENING
"JAG on the Bridge!" Mac stood to attention and saluted as she was announced by the ensign on duty. Captain Johnson looked up from the map chart and waved her over.
"Colonel Mackenzie? I wasn't expecting you, was I?"
"No, sir. I...I need to talk to Captain Rabb."
"He's airborne, Colonel."
"I know, sir. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
"Important how? Captain Rabb and Lieutenant Jorgensen are on a mission, Colonel."
"Yes, sir. It's just...I may know who they are looking for."
At Mac's words Johnson's head shot up, his eyes pinning her to the spot. Mac swallowed, and then met his gaze.
"Captain Rabb's orders were strictly need to know, for him and his RIO. He had no right..."
"He didn't say anything to me, Captain Johnson. I don't know if you are aware...of certain circumstances concerning the then-Commander Rabb crashing in the Atlantic a few years ago."
"Captain Ingles told me of the incident, but I don't see the relevance."
"I was somewhat...instrumental...in the search for him, for Captain Rabb."
"Ingles told me you had...an idea where he might be."
"Yes, sir. And I have had the same...idea...about who you might be looking for."
"Can you share this information with me too?" Johnson asked, but his face was devoid of expression, and Mac was unsure whether he was going to dismiss her out of hand, or listen with avid interest.
"Of course, sir. I believe the person they are looking for is Stuart Dunstan."
"Dunstan? Why the hell...never mind! Okay, Colonel, I will have your call put through to Captain Rabb. If this doesn't pan out, it's your head on the block."
"Yes, sir." Mac smiled briefly in acknowledgement, and then turned to the communications officer who patched her through to Harm's aircraft.
Mac held the microphone of the headset close to her mouth.
"Captain Rabb, it's Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie here."
"I hear you," Harm responded, knowing that Mac was on an open line with her using his official title. "Go ahead," he added.
"I believe you are looking for Stuart Dunstan." Mac spoke quickly, and precisely.
"Dunstan!" Harm's response was loud, and in the rear seat Jorgensen winced. Harm mouthed an apology, and then concentrated on Mac's voice.
"I don't know why he's there, but it was his face I saw. Just after you left the ship, I..."
"It's okay, I understand. Does Captain Johnson know?"
"Yes, I have just informed him, before I made this call."
"We're approaching the coastline now. ATARS is set to go. I'll make one run, and then see what comes back from that. Wherever he is hiding out down there, it won't be possible to rescue him on this run."
"I know."
"He'll be okay. Dunstan's been out with the recon teams before. He knows survival techniques."
"I'm sure he will. Okay, I'll close for now. I'll see you when you get back."
"Guaranteed, Colonel." Harm responded, and Mac closed the call, returning the headset to the communications officer with a nod of thanks. As she turned her attention back to Johnson, he smiled at her.
"He didn't doubt you, Colonel."
"No, sir. He didn't."
"I guess Ingles was right. You two make a formidable team, Colonel."
"Thank you, sir."
"If you want to return to your cabin, I'll have you notified when the flight gets back."
"Thank you, Captain."
"Not a problem, Colonel. I'm sure I won't be the only one who's interested in why Stuart Dunstan might be out in Saudi territory alone."
"No, sir. I guess not. Dunstan's done a lot of things over the years we've known him, but this is the first time he's gone alone."
"Maybe the exploits of you and the Captain have rubbed off on him, Colonel."
"I hope not, sir. At least, not too much. We might want to throttle the man sometimes, but we'd never wish anything to really happen to him."
"I'm sure he knows that, Colonel. Whatever made him go out there, I'm sure it's a very good reason."
"I hope so." Mac nodded in agreement, and then turned to leave the bridge. There was nothing more she could do or say until Harm returned.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be continued
