Two Hours Later
Georgetown University Hospital
Emergency Waiting Room
It was a bedraggled-looking trio that sat waiting for news on the
two women. AJ's and Harm's uniforms were rumpled beyond recognition;
the Admiral had even loosened his tie, while Harm's was hanging loosely
around his neck, completely undone. Webb looked anything but his usual
dapper self, since he was wearing his trenchcoat over a pair of green
hospital scrubs. His suit and shirt had been damaged beyond repair
trying to keep Mercedes Rabb alive.
But even if they had all been impeccably attired as usual, their
facial expressions made it clear all was not well. Harm alternated
between staring anxiously at the ER doors and cradling his head in his
hands, while AJ was impatiently grim. Webb just looked exhausted. All
three had been silent since Mac had been taken to be checked over
shortly after Mercedes had been rushed to surgery.
It was Webb who finally broke the silence. Head back against the
wall, he turned to look at the other men. "So is anybody going to tell
me what the hell that was all about?"
Both turned to look at the weary agent. AJ spoke first. "Rabb and
MacKenzie had been investigating the Virginia ripper murders with a
civilian investigator. Apparently this brought Mac to the killer's
attention, and he went after her, but only after leaving a note for
Mercedes."
"And Mercedes is the civilian investigator, and the one who got
shot tonight, right?" Webb asked.
"That, and a little more..." Harm said quietly. "Mercedes is my
cousin."
Webb sat up straight. "She's your what?"
"His cousin, Mr. Webb," AJ supplied.
"Second cousin, actually," Harm added. "But we were close as
kids... wrote each other constantly, and she spent several summers with
us."
Any further details were cut off by the arrival of a doctor, asking
for Commander Rabb. After identifying himself and the others, Harm
asked, "How is Colonel MacKenzie?"
The doctor, an older man with features reminiscent of Mel Brooks,
frowned before replying. "She's fine. A few scrapes and bruises.
Commander, it's your cousin I'm here to discuss."
Clay jumped in, surprising the others. "How is she?"
"Better than expected," the doctor replied. "We had to give her
several units of blood to make up for what she lost, but we did locate
the bullet and remove it. But when we ran the x-ray, something showed
up I have a question about. Commander, has your cousin ever been in a
serious accident?"
"Yes, but I don't know the details, and it was quite a few years
ago," Harm replied, confused.
"Hmmm....well, it must have been one hell of an accident," the MD
commented. "The x-ray showed that her femur had been broken at some
point, and badly. I was just wondering what she could have done to
have done that."
"She used to race sportscars overseas, when she was younger. A
wreck made her quit," Harm explained quietly, not missing the surprised
looks on his companions' faces.
"Ahhh, not that makes sense. A high-speed impact is one of the
few things that could have done this," the doctor noted. "Well, at any
rate, she came through surgery fine, and you can see her shortly. As
for Colonel MacKenzie, she can go home any time."
"Thank you, doctor," AJ said as the man departed, then turned to
Harm and Webb. "I'll take Mac home, Harm. You can go see Mercedes."
"That won't be necessary, sir," Harm stated coldly.
"Commander?" AJ was confused by Harm's refusal.
"With all due respect, Admiral, I have no desire to see the woman
who put Mac's life and an entire investigation in jeopardy for no
apparent reason," Harm stated with controlled anger. "Now, if you'll
excuse me, sir, I'd like to go home."
AJ's face remained implacable, and so did his voice. "Very well,
Commander. Go home. We'll deal with the fallout of this mess later."
AJ and Webb watched Harm leave. Once he was out of sight, Webb
asked, "What the hell was that all about?"
"Family business, I believe," AJ replied. "I'm off to get Mac and
take her home." He paused. "Thank you for your help, Webb," said
quietly, then left.
For his part, Clay could only stand there, surprised at all that
had happened and come to light in the space of a few hours. After a few
minutes contemplation, he turned and went looking for the nurses'
station.
TBC....
Georgetown University Hospital
Emergency Waiting Room
It was a bedraggled-looking trio that sat waiting for news on the
two women. AJ's and Harm's uniforms were rumpled beyond recognition;
the Admiral had even loosened his tie, while Harm's was hanging loosely
around his neck, completely undone. Webb looked anything but his usual
dapper self, since he was wearing his trenchcoat over a pair of green
hospital scrubs. His suit and shirt had been damaged beyond repair
trying to keep Mercedes Rabb alive.
But even if they had all been impeccably attired as usual, their
facial expressions made it clear all was not well. Harm alternated
between staring anxiously at the ER doors and cradling his head in his
hands, while AJ was impatiently grim. Webb just looked exhausted. All
three had been silent since Mac had been taken to be checked over
shortly after Mercedes had been rushed to surgery.
It was Webb who finally broke the silence. Head back against the
wall, he turned to look at the other men. "So is anybody going to tell
me what the hell that was all about?"
Both turned to look at the weary agent. AJ spoke first. "Rabb and
MacKenzie had been investigating the Virginia ripper murders with a
civilian investigator. Apparently this brought Mac to the killer's
attention, and he went after her, but only after leaving a note for
Mercedes."
"And Mercedes is the civilian investigator, and the one who got
shot tonight, right?" Webb asked.
"That, and a little more..." Harm said quietly. "Mercedes is my
cousin."
Webb sat up straight. "She's your what?"
"His cousin, Mr. Webb," AJ supplied.
"Second cousin, actually," Harm added. "But we were close as
kids... wrote each other constantly, and she spent several summers with
us."
Any further details were cut off by the arrival of a doctor, asking
for Commander Rabb. After identifying himself and the others, Harm
asked, "How is Colonel MacKenzie?"
The doctor, an older man with features reminiscent of Mel Brooks,
frowned before replying. "She's fine. A few scrapes and bruises.
Commander, it's your cousin I'm here to discuss."
Clay jumped in, surprising the others. "How is she?"
"Better than expected," the doctor replied. "We had to give her
several units of blood to make up for what she lost, but we did locate
the bullet and remove it. But when we ran the x-ray, something showed
up I have a question about. Commander, has your cousin ever been in a
serious accident?"
"Yes, but I don't know the details, and it was quite a few years
ago," Harm replied, confused.
"Hmmm....well, it must have been one hell of an accident," the MD
commented. "The x-ray showed that her femur had been broken at some
point, and badly. I was just wondering what she could have done to
have done that."
"She used to race sportscars overseas, when she was younger. A
wreck made her quit," Harm explained quietly, not missing the surprised
looks on his companions' faces.
"Ahhh, not that makes sense. A high-speed impact is one of the
few things that could have done this," the doctor noted. "Well, at any
rate, she came through surgery fine, and you can see her shortly. As
for Colonel MacKenzie, she can go home any time."
"Thank you, doctor," AJ said as the man departed, then turned to
Harm and Webb. "I'll take Mac home, Harm. You can go see Mercedes."
"That won't be necessary, sir," Harm stated coldly.
"Commander?" AJ was confused by Harm's refusal.
"With all due respect, Admiral, I have no desire to see the woman
who put Mac's life and an entire investigation in jeopardy for no
apparent reason," Harm stated with controlled anger. "Now, if you'll
excuse me, sir, I'd like to go home."
AJ's face remained implacable, and so did his voice. "Very well,
Commander. Go home. We'll deal with the fallout of this mess later."
AJ and Webb watched Harm leave. Once he was out of sight, Webb
asked, "What the hell was that all about?"
"Family business, I believe," AJ replied. "I'm off to get Mac and
take her home." He paused. "Thank you for your help, Webb," said
quietly, then left.
For his part, Clay could only stand there, surprised at all that
had happened and come to light in the space of a few hours. After a few
minutes contemplation, he turned and went looking for the nurses'
station.
TBC....