A/N: Didn't plan this, but the muse took over my writing today.

Surprise Ally

JAG Headquarters
June 13, 2001
0700 Local

Admiral A J Chegwidden rubbed the top of his head and stared at the phone on his desk. He needed to make the call, but he dreaded it. Captain Ingles had agreed to look in the area Mac identified the night of Harm's crash, but to suggest they send a search team to a remote, uninhabited island was a bit far-fetched. Not only that, but Mac also wanted to catch the morning COD to the Henry and participate in the search.

Nothing, short of ordering her to back off her theory, would appease her. As her commanding officer, he had every right to do that, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. The entire office had suffered because of Harm's disappearance, but no one as much as Mac. While others had resigned themselves to the fact he was dead, Mac hadn't.

He'd been surprised to receive her phone call the evening before. Had it not been for Mac's "history" of finding people, he wouldn't have stayed to listen, let alone have Lt. Roberts stay over. The three of them had worked until almost midnight, pouring over maps and charts before Mac finally pointed out a small island a couple of hundred miles offshore.

When Bud pointed out the chances of Harm surviving three weeks alone and possibly injured on an uninhabited island were slim, it had almost been Mac's undoing.

"You don't know what you're talking about. Harm is alive! I know it. He… he spoke to me. I heard him call my name."

Bud believed in extra-terrestrials and was into science fiction, but not ghosts. He'd opened his mouth to speak when A J headed him off. "Lt. Roberts. Why don't you go home to your family? You have court in the morning. Ask Judge Morris for a continuance. Explain to him Col. Mackenzie had a family emergency and won't be in."

"Aye, aye, Sir."

After Bud left, Mac spoke. "Does this mean I'm going to the Henry?"

"It means I'll call Captain Ingles first thing in the morning with your theory. But it's his call whether or not to send a surveillance chopper into that area.

"But, Sir—"

"That's all I can promise, Colonel. Now go home and get some sleep. That's an order."

A J reached for the phone when the intercom buzzed. "What is it, Tiner?"

"Clayton Webb to see you, Sir."

"What does he want?"

"Didn't say, Sir. Just that it was important."

"Okay, send him in."

Clayton Webb strolled into the room wearing a three-peace suit. A J wondered if Webb had any casual clothes in his wardrobe.

"What brings you here, Webb? I hope you're not looking for help with one of your missions. I'm already down one senior officer, and my Chief of Staff isn't in any shape to assist."

"That's why I'm here. Not for a mission. I got a call from Mac at three a.m. She's convinced Harm is alive and on a deserted island in the Atlantic."

"Tell me something I don't know. I'm not sure how to break the news that she's probably wrong."

"But they did find the wreckage and evidence Harm ejected from the plane."

"That's true, but after this long, the chances of survival are slim even if he did make it to a deserted island."

"And what if I told you the island Mac identified isn't deserted?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Clay point to a spot on the map that was still spread across A J's desk. "This island here is occupied by a lone individual. He's a former Army medic who lives off the grid."

"How would you know about it?"

"Classified."

"If by some slim chance Harm is alive and being held prisoner by some half-crazed loner and you have information—"

"Hold it, A J. I didn't say the man was crazy. A bit eccentric, but Malcolm's okay."

"Then why hasn't he reported Harm being alive?" A J shook his head. Mac's visions were getting to him. Inwardly, he hoped against hope she was right, but reason told him otherwise.

"I told you, he lives off the grid. Has no way of contacting anyone. A friend flies there three or four times a year to bring him ashore for supplies."

"Ingles is never going to go for this. The chance of the Navy launching a second search and rescue mission is next to nothing."

Webb smirked. "Don't need him. I do have connections."

A J stood. "Then let's get on with it."