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Crouching Tiger: Chapter 9
By Marissa
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Author's Note: I'd like to take a moment and thank all the people who have written or left a review telling me how much they have been enjoying this story. If it wasn't for you, I'd probably never keep motivated enough to finish this story. So once again, thanks!
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Harm's eyes narrowed and he spun back around to face Mac. "I thought that you said that he didn't know that you'd found me."
Mac's eyes were wide with surprise. "I didn't."
"Save your hostility Harm...Ivan, I came on my own accord. Now, if you don't mind, there's a car waiting to take you to the American Embassy where you'll await your transfer back to the United States."
Harm sighed. It was the sigh of a defeated man. He stood and allowed Webb to place the handcuffs on his wrists.
Mac, unsure of what to do, followed Webb as he placed Harm into the back of a black sedan. Harm had refused to meet her glance the entire time, but when he finally did Mac saw something in his beautiful blue eyes that she never expected to see; defeat. "Hold on Harm," thought Mac, "I'm going to get you out of there."
Webb took Mac's arm and gently guided her to the passenger side before he got in the back beside Harm.
The car was completely silent the entire ride to the embassy. Once they arrived, two armed guards helped Harm out of the car and led him away. Before Mac could follow, Clayton had come up beside her and was pushing her towards the large entrance in the opposite direction.
"You can see him later, but I want to talk to you first," he told her quietly in her ear. Clayton took Mac and placed her in an empty office.
"I'll be back," he told her as he closed the door behind him.
Mac went immediately to the door, but found it to be locked. "Great" she thought. She was a prisoner in her own embassy. She tried the door once more before admitting defeat and retiring to the chair behind the desk. She sighed and looked out though the window to the courtyard below.
"Oh Harm," she whispered. "What are we going to do?"
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The two guards that had helped Harm out of the car now led him to a small windowless room, sat him down in one of the two chairs and left. Harm didn't have to wait long for the door to open once again, only this time it wasn't a guard, but Clayton Webb. Harm didn't try and hide the contempt in his eyes.
"I hope you enjoyed your brief stint of freedom while it lasted," Webb told him in Russian. "Because you're not going to experience freedom again for a long, long time."
Harm shook his head. "You're too late. I already told them everything I know," he replied in English.
Clayton sighed heavily and sat down in the chair opposite of Harm. "I kinda figured that." He shook his head. "You had me fooled Harm. Me and a lot of people."
"It's my job."
Webb looked and Harm for a long while, but remained silent. Finally he stood and removed a small key from his pant pocket.
"Stand up," he ordered.
Harm did so and felt the handcuffs drop from his wrists and clink as they hit the floor. He rubbed his reddening wrists and turned around to face Webb.
Clayton held out his hand. "Russian or not Harm, you're a good man. I'm sorry it had to end this way."
"Me too, Webb. Me too," Harm replied, reaching out to grasp the agent's outstretched hand.
And just like that, Webb was gone. Harm shook his head. Just when he thought that he had that man figured out...He smiled inwardly and began to pace.
What was he going to do? He thought. Somehow he had to escape; otherwise he faced a life in prison back in America.
Harm glanced around the room. Besides the door there was no visible opening. There wasn't even a two-way mirror. Eventually his gaze drifted to the ceiling. There was a security camera in the corner, it's flashing red light telling Harm that it was on. Harm stared at the ceiling once again. That was it! The ceiling! The room's ceiling was covered with removable tiles. If Harm could only find the security camera's blind spot he could escape up though the ceiling.
He glanced back at the camera. It was high up in the corner and angled downward. That should place its blind spot directly beneath it. With that information Harm began to drag his chair closer to the camera. Once he was directly beneath it, he raised his leg to step on the chair, but the noise of the door opening caused him to quickly spin around.
The door opened to reveal a familiar figure.
"Harm?" asked Mac. "Are you alright?"
Harm sighed in relief and walked over to capture Mac in a tight bear hug. Mac wrapped her arms around Harm's middle and hugged him tightly back.
"Harm, I'm so sorry...I didn't know he..." Mac began to apologize, but Harm quickly shushed her.
"I know. It's not your fault," Harm broke the embrace to hold her at arm's length. "Mac, listen to me," he whispered, "They've got a camera in here and they're probably listening as well so keep your voice low. Now, you've got to help me get out of here. I can't go back to America...to prison. You've got to help me."
Mac looked into Harm's pleading eyes. Into the eyes of the man she loved more than anyone else. "I can't," she finally stammered. Harm's face fell, as did Mac's heart. "Harm, I want to help you. You have no idea how much, but I can't. Helping you escape goes against everything I've ever been taught. It goes against my oath to my country as a Marine and as a lawyer. I'm so sorry Harm," she choked, the tears forming in her eyes. Refusing to help him was the hardest thing she had ever had to do.
Harm dropped his arms and pulled away from her. "Alright. I guess this is goodbye then," he said to Mac without looking at her.
Mac stood there, helpless as to what to do. "If it makes any difference Harm, I still love you."
That was when Harm broke. Mac caught him before he collapsed and supported him with her arms around his middle. He held her tightly and sobbed softly on her shoulder. They held each other for a long, long time before Harm finally pushed himself away.
"I think it's time for you to go," he told her.
"Alright," she replied softly.
"I will always love you, Sarah," he told her, as he placed a feather of a kiss on her forehead.
"And I will always love you," she replied. Mac gathered herself up and walked out the door and unlike Harm, she didn't look back.
"Goodbye," Harm whispered as he watched the door shut behind her retreating form.
Mac shut the door behind her and let her body slump against it for support. "Goodbye, Harm."
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Clayton Webb pushed his chair back from the TV monitor and ran a hand though his hair. He had just finished watching Harm and Mac say their good-byes. He smiled to himself. At least they had finally admitted to themselves what everyone else had known for years. Webb shook his head and grabbed a ring of keys. "Why?" he asked himself as he got up and let himself out of the tiny room.
In walked in a brooding silence down to the basement room where Harm was being held. He waved the guard posted at the door away and entered the room.
Harm was sitting in one of the chairs with his back towards the door. He didn't turn around when Clayton entered the room.
"What do you want Webb?" Harm asked, keeping his back towards the agent.
Webb was taken back for a moment. "How'd you know it was me?"
"I can tell by your footsteps. I'll ask again. What do you want?"
Webb sighed heavily. His superiors were going to kill him. "Stand up and keep your hands behind your back." Harm did so and Clayton snapped handcuffs onto his wrists. He then took Harm's arm and led him out the door.
Harm looked at Webb with a puzzled look, but said nothing. Clayton took Harm and led him though a series of long, narrow corridors before they finally reached a heavy-looking door. Webb stepped forward and fished the ring of keys out of his pants and unlocked the door. When the door opened and Harm was surprised to find himself at the back of the embassy, staring at the large wall that surrounded it. He was so intent on staring outside that he failed to realize that Webb had removed his handcuffs.
He spun around to face the agent. "What are you *doing*?"
Webb refused to meet his gaze. "I'm letting you go. Run down this alley and you'll find a tree. You can use it to climb up and over the wall, but watch for the snipers on the roof."
Harm stared at Clayton Webb in utter surprise. "I guess I owe you a thank-you."
Webb shook his head. "No, don't thank me. Now go before I change my mind." Clayton watched the retreating form of Harm and shut the door behind him. He had a lot of explaining ahead of him.
Harm took off at a cautious run, staying in the shadows where he could. He kept an eye on the roof, but he saw none of the snipers that Webb had spoken of. Finally, about fifty yards in front of him, Harm saw the tree that was his ticket to freedom, only there was someone standing under it. Harm's muscles tensed and he crouched in the shadows that the large wall provided. Silently, he crept closer to the figure. If need be, Harm knew he could break a man's neck. However, as he approached closer, Harm realized that it wasn't a man under the tree, but a woman. A woman he recognized.
"Mac," he called softly.
She spun around, her eyes straining to see into the darkness. "Who's there?" She called out loudly.
"Shhh, it's Harm," he shushed her, coming out of the shadows and where she could see him.
"Harm? How did you get out?" Mac's eyes reflected both the concern and the joy she felt within her.
"It's a long story. Ask you're friend Webb sometime."
Mac looked away. "You need to go, before they find you."
"Mac," Harm said, his voice barely audible. "Come with me. Come live with me in the Virgin Islands."
Mac still refused to look at Harm. "Harm.....I can't."
"Alright," Harm replied softly. Somehow he knew she never would agree, but he had to ask anyway. "Someday I will come and find you. I promise," Harm said as he placed a quick kiss on Mac's cheek.
Mac finally turned and looked at him, her eyes full of sorrow. Harm looked back into her beautiful brown eyes. There was nothing left to say.
Harm glanced at the rooftop and assured that the coast was clear, climbed nimbly up the tree trunk and over the wall. And just like that, he was out of Mac's life forever.
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What do you think? Do you think Clayton Webb would have really let Harm go? Do you think that Harm would really leave Mac? I'm curious to know what you think. Let me know! (Oh yeah, don't worry, there's still an "epilogue" of sorts left to go, so this story isn't over yet!)
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Crouching Tiger: Chapter 9
By Marissa
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Author's Note: I'd like to take a moment and thank all the people who have written or left a review telling me how much they have been enjoying this story. If it wasn't for you, I'd probably never keep motivated enough to finish this story. So once again, thanks!
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Harm's eyes narrowed and he spun back around to face Mac. "I thought that you said that he didn't know that you'd found me."
Mac's eyes were wide with surprise. "I didn't."
"Save your hostility Harm...Ivan, I came on my own accord. Now, if you don't mind, there's a car waiting to take you to the American Embassy where you'll await your transfer back to the United States."
Harm sighed. It was the sigh of a defeated man. He stood and allowed Webb to place the handcuffs on his wrists.
Mac, unsure of what to do, followed Webb as he placed Harm into the back of a black sedan. Harm had refused to meet her glance the entire time, but when he finally did Mac saw something in his beautiful blue eyes that she never expected to see; defeat. "Hold on Harm," thought Mac, "I'm going to get you out of there."
Webb took Mac's arm and gently guided her to the passenger side before he got in the back beside Harm.
The car was completely silent the entire ride to the embassy. Once they arrived, two armed guards helped Harm out of the car and led him away. Before Mac could follow, Clayton had come up beside her and was pushing her towards the large entrance in the opposite direction.
"You can see him later, but I want to talk to you first," he told her quietly in her ear. Clayton took Mac and placed her in an empty office.
"I'll be back," he told her as he closed the door behind him.
Mac went immediately to the door, but found it to be locked. "Great" she thought. She was a prisoner in her own embassy. She tried the door once more before admitting defeat and retiring to the chair behind the desk. She sighed and looked out though the window to the courtyard below.
"Oh Harm," she whispered. "What are we going to do?"
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The two guards that had helped Harm out of the car now led him to a small windowless room, sat him down in one of the two chairs and left. Harm didn't have to wait long for the door to open once again, only this time it wasn't a guard, but Clayton Webb. Harm didn't try and hide the contempt in his eyes.
"I hope you enjoyed your brief stint of freedom while it lasted," Webb told him in Russian. "Because you're not going to experience freedom again for a long, long time."
Harm shook his head. "You're too late. I already told them everything I know," he replied in English.
Clayton sighed heavily and sat down in the chair opposite of Harm. "I kinda figured that." He shook his head. "You had me fooled Harm. Me and a lot of people."
"It's my job."
Webb looked and Harm for a long while, but remained silent. Finally he stood and removed a small key from his pant pocket.
"Stand up," he ordered.
Harm did so and felt the handcuffs drop from his wrists and clink as they hit the floor. He rubbed his reddening wrists and turned around to face Webb.
Clayton held out his hand. "Russian or not Harm, you're a good man. I'm sorry it had to end this way."
"Me too, Webb. Me too," Harm replied, reaching out to grasp the agent's outstretched hand.
And just like that, Webb was gone. Harm shook his head. Just when he thought that he had that man figured out...He smiled inwardly and began to pace.
What was he going to do? He thought. Somehow he had to escape; otherwise he faced a life in prison back in America.
Harm glanced around the room. Besides the door there was no visible opening. There wasn't even a two-way mirror. Eventually his gaze drifted to the ceiling. There was a security camera in the corner, it's flashing red light telling Harm that it was on. Harm stared at the ceiling once again. That was it! The ceiling! The room's ceiling was covered with removable tiles. If Harm could only find the security camera's blind spot he could escape up though the ceiling.
He glanced back at the camera. It was high up in the corner and angled downward. That should place its blind spot directly beneath it. With that information Harm began to drag his chair closer to the camera. Once he was directly beneath it, he raised his leg to step on the chair, but the noise of the door opening caused him to quickly spin around.
The door opened to reveal a familiar figure.
"Harm?" asked Mac. "Are you alright?"
Harm sighed in relief and walked over to capture Mac in a tight bear hug. Mac wrapped her arms around Harm's middle and hugged him tightly back.
"Harm, I'm so sorry...I didn't know he..." Mac began to apologize, but Harm quickly shushed her.
"I know. It's not your fault," Harm broke the embrace to hold her at arm's length. "Mac, listen to me," he whispered, "They've got a camera in here and they're probably listening as well so keep your voice low. Now, you've got to help me get out of here. I can't go back to America...to prison. You've got to help me."
Mac looked into Harm's pleading eyes. Into the eyes of the man she loved more than anyone else. "I can't," she finally stammered. Harm's face fell, as did Mac's heart. "Harm, I want to help you. You have no idea how much, but I can't. Helping you escape goes against everything I've ever been taught. It goes against my oath to my country as a Marine and as a lawyer. I'm so sorry Harm," she choked, the tears forming in her eyes. Refusing to help him was the hardest thing she had ever had to do.
Harm dropped his arms and pulled away from her. "Alright. I guess this is goodbye then," he said to Mac without looking at her.
Mac stood there, helpless as to what to do. "If it makes any difference Harm, I still love you."
That was when Harm broke. Mac caught him before he collapsed and supported him with her arms around his middle. He held her tightly and sobbed softly on her shoulder. They held each other for a long, long time before Harm finally pushed himself away.
"I think it's time for you to go," he told her.
"Alright," she replied softly.
"I will always love you, Sarah," he told her, as he placed a feather of a kiss on her forehead.
"And I will always love you," she replied. Mac gathered herself up and walked out the door and unlike Harm, she didn't look back.
"Goodbye," Harm whispered as he watched the door shut behind her retreating form.
Mac shut the door behind her and let her body slump against it for support. "Goodbye, Harm."
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Clayton Webb pushed his chair back from the TV monitor and ran a hand though his hair. He had just finished watching Harm and Mac say their good-byes. He smiled to himself. At least they had finally admitted to themselves what everyone else had known for years. Webb shook his head and grabbed a ring of keys. "Why?" he asked himself as he got up and let himself out of the tiny room.
In walked in a brooding silence down to the basement room where Harm was being held. He waved the guard posted at the door away and entered the room.
Harm was sitting in one of the chairs with his back towards the door. He didn't turn around when Clayton entered the room.
"What do you want Webb?" Harm asked, keeping his back towards the agent.
Webb was taken back for a moment. "How'd you know it was me?"
"I can tell by your footsteps. I'll ask again. What do you want?"
Webb sighed heavily. His superiors were going to kill him. "Stand up and keep your hands behind your back." Harm did so and Clayton snapped handcuffs onto his wrists. He then took Harm's arm and led him out the door.
Harm looked at Webb with a puzzled look, but said nothing. Clayton took Harm and led him though a series of long, narrow corridors before they finally reached a heavy-looking door. Webb stepped forward and fished the ring of keys out of his pants and unlocked the door. When the door opened and Harm was surprised to find himself at the back of the embassy, staring at the large wall that surrounded it. He was so intent on staring outside that he failed to realize that Webb had removed his handcuffs.
He spun around to face the agent. "What are you *doing*?"
Webb refused to meet his gaze. "I'm letting you go. Run down this alley and you'll find a tree. You can use it to climb up and over the wall, but watch for the snipers on the roof."
Harm stared at Clayton Webb in utter surprise. "I guess I owe you a thank-you."
Webb shook his head. "No, don't thank me. Now go before I change my mind." Clayton watched the retreating form of Harm and shut the door behind him. He had a lot of explaining ahead of him.
Harm took off at a cautious run, staying in the shadows where he could. He kept an eye on the roof, but he saw none of the snipers that Webb had spoken of. Finally, about fifty yards in front of him, Harm saw the tree that was his ticket to freedom, only there was someone standing under it. Harm's muscles tensed and he crouched in the shadows that the large wall provided. Silently, he crept closer to the figure. If need be, Harm knew he could break a man's neck. However, as he approached closer, Harm realized that it wasn't a man under the tree, but a woman. A woman he recognized.
"Mac," he called softly.
She spun around, her eyes straining to see into the darkness. "Who's there?" She called out loudly.
"Shhh, it's Harm," he shushed her, coming out of the shadows and where she could see him.
"Harm? How did you get out?" Mac's eyes reflected both the concern and the joy she felt within her.
"It's a long story. Ask you're friend Webb sometime."
Mac looked away. "You need to go, before they find you."
"Mac," Harm said, his voice barely audible. "Come with me. Come live with me in the Virgin Islands."
Mac still refused to look at Harm. "Harm.....I can't."
"Alright," Harm replied softly. Somehow he knew she never would agree, but he had to ask anyway. "Someday I will come and find you. I promise," Harm said as he placed a quick kiss on Mac's cheek.
Mac finally turned and looked at him, her eyes full of sorrow. Harm looked back into her beautiful brown eyes. There was nothing left to say.
Harm glanced at the rooftop and assured that the coast was clear, climbed nimbly up the tree trunk and over the wall. And just like that, he was out of Mac's life forever.
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What do you think? Do you think Clayton Webb would have really let Harm go? Do you think that Harm would really leave Mac? I'm curious to know what you think. Let me know! (Oh yeah, don't worry, there's still an "epilogue" of sorts left to go, so this story isn't over yet!)
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