Harm was just about to step into the elevator, feeling resentful and tired, asking himself how in the world could he present the clusterfuck of the situation to Mac when he heard Bud's voice calling to him. He quickly put out his hand to prevent the door from closing, waiting for the younger man to come near.
"I'm not doing it," Bud blurted out breathlessly without any introduction. "I don't care what they throw at me! I am not doing it!"
Harm did not need to ask what. The ties of friendship between him and Bud had over the years strengthened so much Bud was more like his brother than any other man, save perhaps Keeter. To see Bud grow from a somewhat star-struck and clumsy puppy to a brilliant, resourceful and courageous man had been a journey Harm felt blessed to be a part of. So what Sturgis had failed him as a friend. Bud was here and reliable as always.
"I know, Bud. Thank you. Hopefully, they won't throw anything at you and will simply let you recuse yourself?" Harm suggested. "You could always point out how close you and your whole family have always been to me and Mac. Any sane person would take that into account."
"I have already tried," Bud admitted and frowned. "Apparently Commander Turner is not as sane as we would wish."
"Apparently," Harm agreed with a wry, tired smile.
"But I am still not doing it," insisted the younger man, his face resolute. "I will find a way. Even if I have to hire somebody to break my jaw again!" he cracked a smile. In spite of everything, Harm had to smile as well but shook his head.
"Don't you dare! Harriet might break mine then! Seriously, Bud, thank you. But this is not your problem and neither I nor Mac wants you to suffer for it in any way."
"But what are you going to do?"
"I have no idea," Harm admitted and it was the plain truth. It was no longer even a question of him leaving the Navy. He would do that. He should have done that. But now he or Mac or both of them could be facing anything from being dishonourably discharged to going to prison. He would die before he let that happen to Mac though.
"You are not asking whether or not the charges are true," he said then quietly.
"Sir, I ... I am not blind. I know you and the Colonel... well... I see the way you look at her and I see the way she looks at you. I am not as daft as I might seem sometimes. But I also know you and I know her. If the allegations are indeed true, I would bet my whole career that it was a fairly recent development of your relationship."
"It was," Harm said softly, a memory of Mac's soft skin pulsating beneath his lips quivering on the edge of his mind. Wasn't the longing and the thrill supposed to lessen, even vanish, once the craving and wondering had been satisfied? Instead, he found himself even more desperate to be with her, to love her.
"Who is supposed to defend you, sir?" Bud asked after a moment of silence.
"Turner has no name as yet, but I think I might have to look somebody up myself. I don't trust him not to throw me to some kid fresh out of law school." He was determined not to leave anything to chance. Unfortunately, he trusted almost nobody as he did himself, Mac or Bud when it came to litigating.
"Please, sir, if there is anything that I can do, even if it is just research, promise me you will let me know," Bud insisted and gratefully, Harm accepted.
The feelings of warmth and gratefulness lasted only as far as the parking lot.
There Harm was blinded and deafened by a blast. The parts of his and several other cars went flying. The pain in his side seemed like a living fire. Then the debris rained and one of the heavy metal objects smashed into his head.
He slipped into darkness and knew nothing more.
When he finally came to his senses were immediately assaulted by the whiteness of the room, the smell of antiseptic and the beeping of some medical machine. He had woken up in hospitals before and remembered at once what must have put him there this time.
The fire. The blast. The flying car parts. Pain.
How badly was he hurt? He attempted to sit up and with a soft curse gave up when his head went immediately swimming and sharp pain from his right abdomen shot up through his core. He fell back against the pillow and groped for a button to summon a nurse.
Mac. Have they told Mac yet? She would be worried about him. But he had told nobody at work where he was currently residing, not even Bud. But an explosion at the JAG parking lot would surely make news and Mac or Keeter would call there to find out more. He already felt guilty for making Mac worried again. He would make it up to her.
But what happened, really? Was it that bastard Webb? Or somebody else? There were plenty of criminals and terrorists who might want to attack a government building. But would it really coincide with that bastard trying to get to Mac right now? He would bet it was him! Was anyone else hurt? God!
His brain was slow and foggy but cleared a little when, instead of a doctor or a nurse, a man in a dark suit stepped into the room.
"Director Kershaw," Harm croaked and was shocked to hear his own voice. It was raspy and quiet as if he hadn't used it for days. But surely the explosion had just happened? An alarming sense of something was even more wrong than he had thought settled in his stomach.
"What..." he started but Kershaw held up his hand, stopping him.
"Don't strain yourself, Commander. I must say I feel lucky to catch you waking up just as I was asking about you. The doctor said I can talk to you for a moment before he comes in. Being the CIA director has its perks."
Kershaw did not sit down, choosing to stand by Harm's feet with both his hands in his pockets. He looked grave.
"I suppose you have an inkling about who is responsible for you being in this state?"
Harm nodded but could not help but to force out: "What is wrong with me?"
"Serious concussion and a metal tube through your side. Since you are up neither seem to have proved life-threatening, but you are looking ahead for some recovery time. Few weeks at least. The guard at the parking lot was not as lucky. Webb must have hidden the bomb in a vehicle belonging to one of the JAG staff before it even entered the lot. Since it was not a visitor's car, nobody probably checked it really well."
Shit. Shit, shit, shit! Christ, had he not been delayed for a minute by talking to Bud, he would be in pieces himself now. Dead.
"Col.." Harm started but had to pause, lick his lips and take another breath. "Colonel Mackenzie... has she been told? Is... is she here yet?"
Kershaw's eyes darted away from Harm. He looked uncomfortable now.
"Commander," he said then, "Colonel Mackenzie has been missing since the day of the explosion. She has been abducted and agent Keeter sustained a severe injury because he stood in the way. He is, in fact, just a few levels down in this same hospital. Unfortunately, he is not out of the woods yet. He has almost bled to death before the hotel staff found him and called an ambulance."
No.
"The security tapes show the Colonel leaving the hotel with Porter Webb. I think it is reasonable to assume the latter had a concealed weapon."
No.
"I have my people on this, but this is a big ass country and Webb has dozens of houses and mansions and hiding places all over it. Many of which we know nothing about. So far we have nothing to go on."
No.
"How long... how long have I been out of it?" Harm asked with terror.
"You were admitted here a week ago."
No.
A week. He was lying here for a whole week. And Mac was gone again. Lost to him and everybody else. Where? Where was she? Christ, was she even alive?! But she had to be, right? Webbs wanted her alive. She had to be alive! What were they doing to her though?
He wanted to get up. Run out. Find her. He knew he could! Somehow. Again.
His traitorous body refused to act though. His head was pounding and he was seeing double. His side was burning, almost obliterating any other thought. He felt moisture on his face and knew he was crying soundlessly.
It was all too much.
Then Kershaw was gone and a young woman was speaking to him calmly. He did not understand the words. They gave him something. He slept. When he woke up he was no better. So they made him sleep again.
Three more days later he opened his eyes and Bud was there.
He told him everything he could. That his Article 32 was postponed indefinitely for now. That General Cresswell had returned and wanted the situation cleared when it finally became possible. That the doctors were optimistic since his brain scan showed a great improvement. Soon he would be allowed to move about a bit.
Jack Keeter has woken up and was also better.
Colonel Mackenzie was still missing.
So was Clayton Webb and his mother.