Secrets, Duty, and Love
The place had an atmosphere of death as they walked through the halls. Webb who was leading the way, just showed his clearance card every time they were stopped. He had Mac moved from the public hospital to another location. Harm could still not figure what this place was. They entered one building, took and elevator down, and ended up in a medical facility. Obviously some CIA headquarters. Everything was still unbelievable to him. A year ago him and Mac were JAG lawyers, somewhat distant with each other at the time, but not here, not in this place of death. Following Harm and Webb was Harriet, Bud, and the Admiral. Baby AJ was left home with a neighbor. They were all trying to get some idea of what has been going on the last few months.
The room they entered was still and the beeps on the machines were almost hypnotic. The sound itself brought full attention to the ghostly white figure lying on the bed. If it wasn't for the sound of the heart monitor Harm would have thought she was dead. Harriet tried to cover up her sobs of pain and surprise but it was a failed attempt. She was escorted by Bud out of the room. Every visible part of Mac's body was bruised. Some obviously fresh the other's healing with age. The three men watched her machine controlled breathing, as if they were afraid to speak.
Mac's life had taken many turns in its course. Some of the choices she made ended with deaths of her loved ones. Her mother leaving her at a young age was the beginning of the roller coaster. Eddie was the second loop in the structure. His last minutes were with her because she wasn't strong enough to tell him not to drive. It was her fault he was dead. Marrying Chris was a result of rebellion against her father, who was out of it him-self, most of the time. Chris made her feel wanted and they were able to get lost together with alcohol. But he too in the end was a destructive decision, and after his arrest and Eddies' death in the same week, her uncle came and saved her from it all.
Her uncle was able to convince her into joining the Marines and do something good with her life. He told her not to forget about the past because it makes you who you are, but not to get lost in regrets and "what ifs." Who would have thought that a drunk from a small town would become one of the best fighting Marines in training? Mac was recruited out of Marine training secretly, into a covert group of Marines, Navy Seals, and Pilots. Her skills were with the weapons. She had an unbeatable record in piecing together any weapon, from any country, without previous directions. Her language skills were another bonus. While in her new training sessions she learned dozens of foreign languages. They were trained for knowledge, speed, and precision. Many nights were spent practicing the breaches of foreign dictators' homes. Awards were actually given to the operative who could place the most hidden bugs in one home. Mac walked away with that award. The KGB Headquarters were easier to brake into then a safe.
After training was over, she was assigned two years in Russia watching out for American spies or MIA soldiers. The part she played was a simple role as a KGB agent. That was the most exciting thing she has ever done up to that point. Later when the mission was over she was reassigned as a weapons manager in Cuba for three years. That assignment was to watch their production of weapons and drug exports to the US. Her big assignment was actually an assignment in the US. She was placed as the head of White House security for awhile, washing out the leaks and traders. There were a lot more then the US government would ever admit. After her time with the big boys a team and herself were sent to Bosnia to control things there. That assignment was her last with the group. The agency took her out of the games and assigned her a murder case. A degree in law was one of the outcomes of her training. Along with many others when they need to be used. In the middle of the murder investigation she was pulled out. Her new assignment was with JAG Headquarters in Washington. The case was made unknown to her from the beginning. Mac stood outside the White House court, in the garden to keep out of view. The president knew who she really was as did his security, but the chances of other White House official recognizing her was too great. Her roller coaster came too a steady stop when Commander Harmon Rabb walked through that garden.
She had to keep herself as professional as possible. After her anger at being set up to find her uncle was gone, that was the beginning of a real life for her. She tried her hardest to keep her personal feelings away from her new partner. Waited for a call from the agency that would start her life of acting again, but it didn't come. Her act as a tough Marine was wearing thin the longer she stayed in the assignment. It was just too comforting to accept the idea of real friends. Bad thing was she always knew she held a secret, one that she could never tell them. Mac new that one day she would be called again, and would have to leave the place she has called home for years now. When the call came it was unexpected.
Mac packed up her pictures wrote a farewell to Harm, and said goodbye to her friends, Harriet and Bud. Her apartment was cleaned of her photos, but left the clothes because she knew where ever she was going, her clothes would not. Whenever starting a new assignment they provide you with the characters' wardrobe. The drive was not long to the White Hose basement. The familiar team was already there in black dress. She smiled at a few and walked to the back office. He was seated behind his desk when she entered, handed her an envelope, and smiled with a nod.
"Nice to have you back Mackenzie."
She smiled and nodded back.
"You kept me out of things for awhile sir. May I ask why?"
He directed for her to sit.
"New recruitment came in. We needed time and cases to train them on. So as a result you all had an extended vacation. I heard you have done good work Mackenzie, as always. What I wasn't prepared for was seeing you name and photos in the paper or TV."
She knew there would be questions regarding her publicity.
"Some of that was out of my control sir. I was expecting the agency to stop the printing of the papers, but I guess that was not priority."
Her part in the agency was as a senior officer. But now she felt as though she was a young recruit again. Something was not right.
"We were busy here cleaning up as much as we could on the Monica business. That was an unexpected turn. She was such a good operative, but then she had to go and get involved with the boss personally."
Mac smiled and laughed.
"You and I both know that mess was out of control way before we could ever clean it up."
"Yeah well we took a lot of heat from the big guy. Now we got this new guy in office, maybe some changes will be made."
Mac looked down at the envelope in her hands. Back to the life of secret identities and lies.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll find out on the way." He studied her for a minute. "Is there a problem?"
"No sir. It's just while I was out I made the mistake of making friends with great people, who didn't deserve to be lied to when I left. I just left, like I was trained. No explanation just left."
He felt for his operative.
"I know it will be hard for them and for you. We kept you to long and it is our fault if there was a relationship growth between you and the people you were with. They will receive some type of official notice as to why you are gone, and not coming back. You are dismissed."
"Sir, may I ask a favor? When they are told, and if anything happens to me, can they receive some of my personal items? I would like them to have them."
"That I can do. Now go out there to your team before they leave without you."
"Bye Sir, and thankyou."
"Good Luck Mankenzie."
He watched as the door shut behind her