Part Twelve

Base Hospital
Memphis NAS
1240 Local

Harm watched as Mac disappeared into the ER and then turned back to Singer. "Let's find some place to sit, Lieutenant." They found some seats in the waiting area and settled down. Harm looked over at her, "How are you feeling, Lauren?"

"I'm fine, sir," she answered, why did he keep asking that? She could feel the exasperation growing at the skeptical look on his face. "Really, sir, I'm okay. I mean, I didn't actually get shot. I guess that's surprising, considering that I stood there like some mindless idiot. It's just that... I mean... Oh hell, no one's ever shot at me before ... I can't believe... Good god, they must be out of their minds... WHY did the Colonel do that? Why push me out of the way? We don't even like each other." Lauren stopped suddenly, appalled at herself for babbling in front of Cmdr. Rabb. What was she thinking?

Harm smiled slightly at the dismayed look on Singer's face. "Lieutenant, I think you're still dealing with the adrenaline rush. It affects everyone differently. One of the reasons I want you here, is to make sure you're still all right when adrenaline goes away." He paused for a moment, "As for what you said... " Lauren tensed. Harm leaned back a little, "Look, being a JAG doesn't exactly prepare you for something like this. So you didn't move, big deal. You also didn't start screaming hysterically or dissolve into tears." He grinned at her snort of disgust, "As for Colonel MacKenzie... Lauren, not only are you partners - you're under her command. Like or dislike doesn't enter into it."

He sighed at the quizzical look on Singer's face, "This probably isn't the best time to lecture on the qualities of leadership. Lauren, being a good officer isn't only about people obeying your orders. You're responsible for them. You take care of them, they'll take care of you."

Lauren scowled, "I didn't think being an officer was about bonding with enlisted, sir."

"It's not. This is about respect. You can't just demand it, you have to earn it and you have to give it." Harm gazed at the Lieutenant, she could probably make a decent officer. She was certainly bright enough. But everything she did was weighed and colored by her relentless drive to achieve her goal. The people under her were tools to that end, nothing more. Her peers and the people above her were obstacles. The problem was most of them knew it... and resented it.

He decided to try again, "Lieutenant, you can be as mean and hard-nosed as you want. But however hard you work them, you work yourself harder. You can scream and yell as much as you want, but you don't let someone else do it to them. If another officer has a problem with your people, you take the heat. Then, if you think it's warranted, you pin their ears back. They'll bitch and moan but as long as you're consistent and fair, they'll also respect you."

Singer looked at him dubiously. Harm rolled his eyes, "Lauren, how does the office staff feel about Colonel MacKenzie?"

"They like her, I guess," Lauren said slowly.

"Know anyone who would deliberately cross her?"

"Well... " She was about to say herself, but that probably wasn't the smartest thing to say. And he probably meant overt anyway, "No, I don't think so, sir."

Harm eyed her, he could guess what was going on in her head during that pause. "Why?"

"Because she'd kill them."

"Are they afraid of her?"

Lauren smiled dryly, remembering her earlier conversation with the Colonel. "Only if they cross her."

Harm smiled back. They both looked up at the sound of footsteps approaching. Perez and Tyler were walking towards them. Harm looked back at Singer, "One more question, Lieutenant. Who must be out of their minds?"

Lauren actually managed a weak chuckle, "The women who want to be allowed into combat, sir. Who, in their right mind, would WANT to be shot at?"

Harm and Singer stood up when the two men arrived. Perez spoke first, "Any word on the Colonel, sir?"

"Not yet." Harm said. "Any leads on the sniper?"

Perez grimaced, "Not a helluva lot. It was a set-up, of course. Admiral Crowley never requested that the Colonel see him. I'm going to talk to Lt. Barker to find out exactly what was said."

Harm frowned slightly and then focused his attention down the hall. Perez turned and saw a doctor walking towards them.

"Gentlemen, you're here for Colonel MacKenzie?" At the confirming nods, he continued, "I'm Dr. Brunson. The Colonel's a lucky woman. She's had the equivalent of a hard rap on the head, and then the shock, of course. Any lower could have severed her spinal cord and any further in would have just killed her. She's on an IV right now, we'll take it off in about an hour and then let her rest. She'll be free to go in a couple of hours. Try not to let her do anything strenuous for the next day or so." He turned around and started to head back to the ER.

"Doctor?" Harm called. Brunson turned back. "Can someone stay with her?"

"Yes, that's fine. Just check with the station desk, they'll tell you where to find her."

They all looked at each other. It was fairly obvious that Harm was staying. He looked over at Singer, "Lieutenant, it's been pretty stressful today. Why don't you take the rest of the afternoon off?"

"If you don't mind sir, I'd rather be working. I want to find these... people," she replied.

Perez spoke up, "The Lieutenant can come back with me. I need to talk to Barker."

Tyler looked at Harm, "Can I stay, sir?"

Harm nodded. Five minutes later, they were standing in a curtained off area, watching a sleeping Sarah MacKenzie. Aside from the IV, she seemed peaceful enough. Harm grabbed a chair and gestured for Tyler to do the same. He settled down and glanced up when the ensign came and stood next to him. He was holding a plastic bag containing Mac's uniform.

"Sir, how about if I take this and see about getting it cleaned?" Tyler asked in a near whisper.

"I think the Colonel would appreciate that," Harm smiled. As the ensign started to leave, he added, "Tyler? Keep your eyes open, okay?" Harm watched the young man leave. These people were keying on Mac which made it seem more and more likely that it had something to do with 'Archangel'. Or... it was a feint to get them looking in the wrong direction. He sighed, they'd keep both possibilities in mind.

Base Hospital
Memphis NAS
1445 Local

Mac slowly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. 'Oh hell... '

"Hey Mac, how're you feeling?" That was Harm's voice, she turned her head to find him sitting next to the bed.

She thought about it for a moment, "Fine, I guess. Except for my head still hurting and being back here again. What happened?"

Harm looked at her in surprise, "You don't... what do you remember?"

"Getting out of the car at HQ. How'd I wind up back here?"

"A sniper opened fire just as you and Lieutenant Singer reached the building. No one realized at first that you'd been hit. You don't remember any of this?"

"No. Is Singer all right?"

"Yeah, a little shook up. I told her to take the afternoon off but she wanted to get back to work. She and Perez are back at JAG. Do you remember talking to Admiral Crowley?"

"Uh-uh."

"Really? You suggested that he try to do something to himself that was anatomically impossible." Harm looked at her innocently.

Mac's mouth dropped open, "I did what?!"

Harm scrunched up his face thoughtfully, "I think that was just after you speculated on his family's genealogy."

Mac stuttered a moment more and then her eyes narrowed suspiciously, "You'd better find a Tomcat to strap on, Flyboy. Because when I get out of this bed... "

A doctor poked his head around the curtains, interrupting her. "Ahhh, Colonel, you're awake." He walked in the rest of the way and picked up her chart.

"Doc, she doesn't remember what happened," Harm said.

"Oh? Well, I wouldn't worry too much, Colonel. It's not entirely unexpected. You'll probably find yourself remembering bits and pieces as the days go by." He finished looking over her chart and smiled, "I think you've set a record for return trips."

"The Colonel's developed a taste for lime jello, Doctor. I believe she'll do anything to get back here for more." Harm interjected with a grin.

"Keep it up, Commander. You know what they say about payback." Mac said in a mock growl.

Harm raised his eyebrows in an innocent expression, "I don't believe I remember... "

"Oohh, that's it." Mac started to throw the covers off.

"Colonel, Commander! If I might interrupt a moment," the doctor said, laughing. He looked at Mac, "Colonel, you're free to leave. I'd like you to go at least twenty-four hours before turning up here again." He looked over at Harm, "Commander?... Run." With that, he turned and left, still chuckling.

Mac arched an eyebrow at Harm, "You heard the man."

He raised both hands, still grinning, "Truce?"

"Truce." Mac looked around the cubicle, "Where are my clothes?"

Harm glanced at his watch, "They should be back any minute now. Tyler took them to be cleaned." Harm adopted a stern expression, "You've been awfully rough on your wardrobe lately."

"Yeah, too bad I've been wearing it at the time," Mac agreed dryly. "A sniper, huh?" Harm nodded. Her hand drifted up to the back of her head, "And hit me here?"

Harm nodded again, he could see it was sinking in just how close they had come. He cleared his throat, "I understand the head is the safest place to hit a Marine."

Mac stared at him in surprise before assuming a look of outrage, "You're cruisin', Rabb."

"No, really," Harm said, trying to maintain a serious demeanor, "I took a class at the Academy." He started ticking off points on his fingers, "First off, you have to hit them hard enough. Something, say, like a Sidewinder. Anything less and they think you just want to be friends. Then there seems to be some lag time while it filters through that they've actually been hit, so it's easy to make a leisurely escape... " He was interrupted when a pillow bounced off his head.

"Squid, you are in such trouble," Mac said, trying not to smile. "I swear, clothes or no clothes... "

"I vote no clothes," Harm said quickly, vacating his chair at the same time.

"What makes you think you get a vote?" Mac purred, a dangerous glint in her eye.

"This IS a democracy." Harm countered, when had they turned the air conditioning off?

"Not in this little cubicle of the world, Mr. Rabb." She gave him a slow smile, "However, bribery is considered acceptable... "

"I see," Harm grinned while raising an eyebrow. He started to move back towards the bed when they both heard a throat being loudly cleared. A moment later, Tyler's voice came from beyond the curtains, "Sir, Ma'am?" Harm rolled his eyes and then glared in exasperation at Mac. She was sitting there trying hard not to laugh. She waved a hand at him and said quietly with a smile, "The look on your face, Navy." Raising her voice, she called, "Come on in, Ensign."