TROUBLE AHEAD

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SUDSY'S BAR – NORFOLK

Harm walked into the bar and looked around.  It was a few degrees above a dive and full of both enlisted men and low ranking officers.  Harm was basically unnoticed since he wasn't wearing his uniform.  He liked that he was able to move around and not have lower ranks gawk at him.  No one would know who he was except one person…

"Commander Rabb, I didn't think you would hang out in a place like this." Amanda said.

"Oh, Amanda, I could say the same about you." Harm smiled.

"Well, I live near here.  My friends and I come here to relax." Amanda replied.

"Same with me." Harm said sipping his beer.  "Can I get you something?"

"No thanks, I'm set." Amanda replied and walked away.

Harm continued to survey the bar.  Minutes became hours and finally people stared to drift out.  He watched as a group of ensigns left together.  They were a group and it didn't worry him, since all of the victims had been alone.  He chatted a bit with the bartenders asking them if they noticed anything unusual.  They didn't know anything.  Not that it was a surprise; no one knew anything.  Closing time came and Harm took his leave.  He drove back to the base and was headed for Mac's room to tell her he was back, when he saw a figure moving toward the docks.

Before he could shout a warning, he saw the figure raise an arm in a threatening gesture to the figure in front. He ran and watched helplessly as the person struck the person.

"Hold it right there." Harm called out as he approached the two. "Stop."

The figure disappeared into the shadows and Harm knelt beside the ensign who was laying on the ground.  He removed his jacket to provide some support for his head.  Harm should have been paying attention to his surroundings; suddenly everything went black. 

MAC'S ROOM

Mac was pacing in her room.  It's after midnight, why isn't he back yet? She thought. I should have never let him go alone. She picked up a file, sat down to read it and threw it on the desk.  She called his cell phone and got voice mail.

Another 30 minutes passed, if you're in trouble ok, if you're ok you are in so much trouble. Mac warned Harm in her mind.  Finally there was a knock at her door.

"Harm, you have no idea how worried…" Mac said as she opened the door and saw two SP officers standing at her door.

"Colonel MacKenzie." The Shore Patrol Officer said.

"What's wrong?" Mac asked cutting him off. "Where's Commander Rabb?"

"Ma'am, he's been injured, he's at the base hospital." The officer said.

"What happened?" Mac asked, as she grabbed her jacket.

"We're not sure Ma'am, we found him with Ensign Riley, the were both attacked." The officer replied. "I will escort you to the hospital."

"It's not necessary.  I have my car." Mac replied.

"Ma'am, the CO's orders. Safety in numbers, no one is to go anywhere alone." The second officer replied.

""Fine, let's go." Mac said as she got into their car.

BASE HOSPITAL

Mac barely waited for the car to stop before she jumped out and ran in. 

"Lieutenant, where is Commander Rabb?" Mac demanded.

"Colonel, please relax.  He's with the doctor right now." The Lieutenant replied.

"Is he conscious?" Mac asked.

"No, neither he, nor the Ensign are." She answered.

"Was the ensign from the class of 2002?" Mac asked.

"Let me check the records, one moment please." The Lieutenant stated.

Mac paced back and forth.  She was going to call the Admiral, but decided to wait until she had something to report.  He better be okay, he's going to ruin all my plans. Twenty minutes later the nurse returned.

"Colonel, Ensign Riley was in the class of 2002." The Lieutenant replied. "And he's come to."

"That's wonderful, what about Commander Rabb?" Mac asked.

"No change as of yet, Ma'am." The Lieutenant stated.

"I would like to speak with Ensign Riley." Mac said, going into Marine mode.

"I'll check with the doctor." The Lieutenant replied.

The Lieutenant went to speak with the doctor and Mac resume her pacing.  She needed to talk to someone, but whom? Harm was whom she would turn to when she needed to talk to someone.  There wasn't anyone.

Both the Lieutenant and the doctor came out at the same time.

"Ma'am, you can see Ensign Riley when you're ready.  This is Commander Perkins, he was attending to Commander Rabb."

"How is he Commander?" Mac asked.

"Colonel MacKenzie, let's sit." Perkins said.

"No, just tell me. Is he alive?" Mac asked with a worried tone.

"Yes, but the injuries he sustained were worse then the ensign's.  It looks as if he was hit from above." Perkins said.  "More force was used, the ensign's injuries indicate that whoever hit him was shorter."

"That doesn't make sense, the Commander is 6'4" unless the ensign is 7 feet tall and the culprit somewhere between the two how could that be?" Mac asked.

"Or, the Commander could have been tending to the ensign when he was struck." Perkins said. "Kneeling down perhaps."

"What is the prognosis?" Mac asked.

"Right now, I can't say.  He is unconscious, but that is not uncommon with head injuries of this magnitude." Perkins stated. "We just have to wait and see."

"And then what?" Mac asked.

"Colonel, he's not in a coma. That's a good sign.  So far there is no indications of any hematomas or swelling in the brain. We just have to wait.  The Commander's healing himself and it may take time." Perkins said.

"Thank you." Mac said. "Lieutenant, I'd like to see the ensign now."

"Right this way, Ma'am." The Lieutenant replied, and led Mac to the ensign's room.

"Ensign Riley, I'm Colonel MacKenzie, how are you feeling?" Mac said.

"I've been better, Ma'am." Riley tried to smile.

"I'm sure you have." Mac replied. "Ensign do you remember anything?"

"Just that I was walking back to billeting and I heard someone call my name." Riley said. "The next thing I was getting clobbered."

"Did you recognize the voice of the person calling you?" Mac asked.

"It was a familiar woman, but I can't place it." Riley answered.

"Are you saying a woman hit you?" Mac asked.

"I don't know if a woman hit me, but it was definitely a woman who called me." Riley said.

"Thank you, Ensign. Get some rest." Mac said and she left the room.

Mac left the ensign and went to the desk, "May I see Commander Rabb?"

"Yes, Ma'am." The Lieutenant said. "Follow me."

Mac walked into Harm's room.  He was lying in the bed with monitors around him and gauze wrapped around his head.  There was small dots of blood indicating where his injuries where.  Mac looked at Harm's pale face and pulled a chair closer to the bedside.  She sat down and instinctively took his hand.  She looked up at the monitors; his heart was beating strong and brain activity looked normal.

"Harm," Mac whispered. "Would you mind waking up? I need to talk to you."

She squeezed his hand and sat back in the chair.  About an hour later, a nurse came in and said she needed to get Harm's vitals.  Reluctantly, Mac left the room, and stood outside the door.  It was approaching 6am and she decided now would be a good time to contact the Admiral.

"Chegwidden." AJ said as he picked up the phone.

"Admiral, this is Colonel MacKenzie." Mac stated.

"Colonel, what's going on that you are calling so early?" AJ asked.

"Sir, last night we got a lead in the beatings.  Commander Rabb went to a local bar." Mac said.

"And where is the Commander now?" AJ didn't want to ask.

"Sir, the Commander apparently came to the aid of an ensign who was attacked and he was injured." Mac said quickly.  "Sir, he's in ICU, with a head trauma."

"What's the prognosis?" AJ asked.

"At this time there is none Sir, they said we have to wait and see." Mac stated.

"That's not good enough." AJ yelled into the phone. "Mac, I'm sorry."

"I understand Sir, I would like to yell as well." Mac replied.

"I'm sending the Gunny down there." AJ stated. "I want this resolved.  No one touches my people."

"Aye Sir." Mac said. "If it's acceptable, I would like to contact Gunny."

"Very well.  Tell him I want him there yesterday." AJ said.

"Yes Sir." Mac said.

"And Mac," AJ said calmly, "Tell the Commander he has a hard head and I'm praying for him."

"Will do Sir." Mac said with a smile in her voice.  She disconnected and called Gunny.

ASHLYN'S APARTMENT

"Victor," Ashlyn nudged him, "your phone."

"Morning," Gunny said.

"Your phone." Ashlyn repeated handing it to him.

"Galindez," Gunny said waking up.

"Gunny, it's Colonel MacKenzie." Mac said. "The Admiral wants you in Norfolk ASAP."

"What's going on, Ma'am?" Gunny asked.

"Commander Rabb's been attacked, he's unconscious and the Admiral wants you down here to assist with the investigation." Mac said.

"Ma'am, are you okay." Gunny asked.

"I'm fine, I wasn't with him." Mac replied.

"I'm leaving now, I'll be there in three hours." Gunny replied and disconnected the call.

"What's going on?" Ashlyn asked.

"That was Colonel MacKenzie, Commander Rabb was attacked and is unconscious.  The Admiral wants me to go to Norfolk to assist with the investigation." Gunny replied.

"Oh my goodness." Ashlyn said. "Did the Colonel mention, what they were doing for him?"

"No, she didn't say anything.  She sounded a bit upset." Gunny said.

"I'm coming with you." Ashlyn said.

"Why?" Gunny asked.

"I'm a doctor, and an ER doctor.  I deal with traumas.  I may be able to help your friends." Ashlyn said.

"That's really nice of you, but what about work?" Gunny asked.

"I just got off a 36 hour shift, I don't have to be back for the next 48. I'll follow you in my car." Ashlyn said.

She went and grabbed a bag and was back in the living room in five minutes.

"How did you pack so fast?" Gunny asked as they walked to their cars.

"I always have a bag packed. Don't ask." Ashlyn replied.

"Let's go." Gunny said and they took off for Norfolk.

NORFOLK BASE HOSPITAL

Three hours later, Gunny and Ashlyn pulled up to the base hospital.  Gunny let the guard know that Ashlyn was with him and to let her pass.

"Colonel MacKenzie, has there been any change?" Gunny asked walking to Mac.

"No, there hasn't." Mac replied. "Dr. Spaulding, what are you doing here?"

"Good morning, Colonel. I thought I could be of some help.  Maybe get some answers for you." Ashlyn smiled.

"That's nice of you, but they haven't told me anything." Mac said.

"Would you let me give it a try?" Ashlyn asked.

"Of course." Mac said and quietly turned to Gunny, "You've found a good one there."

"I know Ma'am." Gunny replied with some pride.

"Excuse me, my name is Dr. Ashlyn Spaulding." Ashlyn said showing her hospital ID. "I'd like to speak to the doctor handling the Rabb case."

"One moment please." The Lieutenant replied.

"Dr. Spaulding, I'm Dr. Perkins. You didn't have to come all the way down here." Perkins replied.

"When I heard what happened, I thought it would be best." Ashlyn said, "The Commander is a friend of sorts."

"Where do you work?" Perkins asked.

"I'm an attending at Mary Washington.  I deal with these kinds of trauma all day long." Ashlyn said.

"Colonel MacKenzie?" Perkins called. "Is this acceptable to you? Releasing information to Dr. Spaulding?"

"Absolutely. " Mac replied. "We need to go see the CO, she will be here in my absence."

"Come this way, Doctor." Perkins said to Ashlyn.

Commander Perkins and Ashlyn went to an office and discussed Harm's case.  When they were done, Ashlyn was granted privileges to review all of Harm's files.

"His brain activity looks good." Ashlyn commented.

"We aren't sure why he isn't waking up." Perkins said.

"You did a CT?" Ashlyn asked.

"Of course, it all looks good." Perkins said. "Honestly, I've never seen anything like this."

"May I see that side view again?" Ashlyn asked.

Perkins pulled the side view again for Ashlyn. "It looks clean." Perkins said.

"Clean, but not perfect." Ashlyn said pointing to a small spot. "Right there."

"Oh my god, I never saw that." Perkins said.

"Dr. Perkins, I missed it my first time too." Ashlyn said. "He's got pressure slowly building up, it needs to be relieved."

"I've never done anything like that before, I wouldn't even know how to start."

"You've been lucky." Ashlyn said. "I've had to do the procedure, several times."

"Then Commander Rabb is the lucky one." Perkins said. "I'll get everything ready."

Twenty minutes later, Harm was being wheeled into the operating room.  Mac and Gunny were called and returned to the hospital.

"Doc, are you sure you can do this?" Gunny asked. "I didn't mean that way."

"I know, I've done this before, under more hectic circumstances." Ashlyn said.

"Dr, Spaulding…" Mac said.

"It's going to be fine." Ashlyn smiled.

Ashlyn and Perkins went to take care of Harm.

Three hours later, she came back out.  She looked exhausted.  Gunny and Mac both jumped up when they saw her walking towards them.

"How is he?" Mac asked.

"He's going to be fine." Ashlyn replied.

"I have never seen such precision before." Perkins said walking behind her.

"He's in recovery now." Ashlyn said.

"We'll let you know when you can see him." Perkins said.

"I think the Colonel, can see him now." Ashlyn said, she picked up on Mac's more than co-worker concern earlier.

"You're the expert." Perkins replied. "Colonel, follow me."

"You know you're amazing." Gunny said hugging her. "You saved me, you just saved the Commander."

"Gunny, I didn't exactly save you. You're injury was not life threatening." Ashlyn laughed.

"Who was talking about my injury?" Gunny smiled.

"Thanks, Victor." Ashlyn smiled. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything." Gunny said.

"How long has the Colonel been in love with the Commander?" Ashlyn asked.