Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Prisoners' Camp
China
Two hours later, the guard finally returned with a semi-conscious Matt. After shoving him into the cell, they left the extremely worried Trey to fuss over him. "Matt, are you ok?" There was no response. "Jonas, can you heard me? Jonas!"
"Yeah...stop screaming!" He replied quietly. "It's almost over, Trey."
"It's not over, yet, Matt. You'll get the hell out of here, you hear me? Listen! You're going home!"
"It's the war, Trey. It's almost over..." Matt lost consciousness before quite finishing his sentence.
"Matt! Stay with me! Matt!" Trey shook him roughly, but there was no response. "Damn it!" He pulled his brother near him. "I'll get you out of here, Matt. I'll get you out of here. Even if it's the last thing I ever do..."
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5 months later
19 January 2039
1400 EST
The Pentagon
"Admiral, sir!" A Navy Commander snapped to attention upon seeing the admiral's stripes on the visitor's sleeve.
"At ease, Commander."
"Admiral Jacobs is waiting for you, sir. You can go right in."
"Thank you."
Pushing the officer door open and gently shutting it behind him, the other Admiral inside the room turned to the desk and stood at attention. "Sir, reporting as ordered, sir."
"At ease. For crying out loud, Patrick, I'm not your CO anymore! Hell, you got my job, and two stars, yourself. Can you at least try calling me Harm?"
"Sorry, sir. It's a die-hard habit. You are a four-star, after all."
Harm grinned slightly, shaking his head. "All right, why did you want to see me?"
"Sir, before I go on, there's one other person who should be here." As if on cue, Clayton Webb hurried into the room.
"Webb?" Harm looked at him with disbelief. "I though you'd retired already. Are you still qualified for field work?" He grinned a bit, not being able to resist teasing his old friend.
"Cute, Harm. Very cute. The CIA thought it would be better that I handle this one, considering our close relationship. You know in-laws and stuff like that."
"Ok...so what is it then?"
"Sir, Naval Intel found a POW camp in China near the jungle at Hang Zhou. We intend to capture the camp, now that CIA and Marines have confirmed that there are US military personnel in that camp." Patrick informed him.
"All right, that was expected, but why tell me all this? You don't need my permission for this operation. I'm retired."
Patrick and Clayton exchanged a glance before Clay spoke up, "Harm, your sons were in that camp all this time, and they still are."
"Matt? Is he really there?"
"Yes, Harm. They are in there." Clay continued, not even sure if Harm had noticed the plural word.
Sure enough, Harm quickly cut him off. "Wait...wait! You said 'they.' Matt was the only one that went MIA. God! It couldn't be Albert, could it?"
"No! You knew very well that Albert is still at Bethesda right this moment."
A relieved sigh escaped from Harm before he continued, "Then who...?"
"Harm, 12 yrs ago, USS Kennedy, ring any bells?"
"Trey." Harm gasped.
"Yes, it's Trey. He was alive all this time."
"Sarah needs to know."
"I agree with you, but, Harm, have you thought about the possible of a failed rescue? Mac doesn't need a false hope right now."
Harm didn't seem to hear him. His mind kept repeating the same thing. Trey is alive. My boys are alive.
"Admiral Rabb? Sir! Admiral!?" Patrick tried to break his almost trance.
"Wha--oh, sorry. I zoned out for a minute there. When is the operation?"
"In two days, sir, with the USS Kennedy in charge of operations. In addition, the Marines and the CIA are sending in operatives."
"CIA? What does this have to do with the CIA?"
"Harm, I may be retired, but I still have plenty of strings I can pull. As for why the CIA is involved in this mission, that information is classified." Clay grinned as he said the familiar words.
"Some things never change." Harm shook his head with a smile.
"We'll have your boys home, Harm." Clay's grin slipped off his face and he stared seriously at his friend.
"I hope so, Clay. I hope so." Suddenly Harm, who had leapt to his feet when he heard that his boys were alive, staggered, clutching his chest.
"Harm!"
"Admiral! Are you ok?"
"Yes, just get me a glass of water, please."
Patrick rushed to get the water while Clay gently pushed him into a nearby chair. Harm reached into his desk, grabbing some pills which he quickly swallowed.
"You better now, Harm?" Clay asked, worried.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. It's just that lately my heart hasn't been very cooperative. That's all." He turned to Patrick. "I want to be on board the Kennedy."
Patrick nervously glanced at Clay. "But, sir..."
"Don't make me pull rank, Patrick!" Harm looked threatening.
"Aye, aye, sir." He automatically snapped to attention at Harm's tone, and then he hesitated. "Sir, what are you going to tell General Rabb?"
Harm sighed. "I honestly don't know. If I am going to be on board Kennedy, she'll certainly want to know why."
"Harm, do you think it would be wise to tell her?" Clay rubbed his eyes wearily.
"I really don't know. I don't want her to get hurt again if this operation fails. However, Trey and Matt are not only my sons. They are our sons. She has the right to know, just like I do."
The others just stood there silently. They didn't know what to say. They certainly couldn't guarantee that the operation would succeed, and Harm knew it.
TBC….
As usual, drop me a word or two.