Feedback: Not necessary but always welcome and very much appreciated. Actually, feedback is VERY, VERY * much * appreciated!:o)

Disclaimer: JAG and its characters belong to Paramount and CBS. No copyright infringement intended, I'm simply borrowing these wonderful characters for the amusement of fellow shippers everywhere.

A/N: Ah-can it be? Yes, it is . I'm back!!! LOL! SO sorry for the longer than usual absence, one catastrophe after another kept befalling me and then it was time for last minute term papers and cramming for exams, and along the way I found myself a beta thanks to UTC. This chapter would still be on the drawing boards, possibly in my recycle bin on my desktop if not for her, so . Amy, chica, you absolutely ROCK!!! Ladies and gentlemen you have no idea how awesome a job she did on this chapter, but me being me, I'm sure I've managed to muck up her precision. So any errors that you may stumble upon are all my own. :o)

Oh, my "thank yous". I've had this chapter started for a REALLY long time, like a week after I posted the first one, consequently all my thank yous are from then and I figured my A/N from then is still relevant so I've added that as well as my thank you notes to the end of this chap. So if I owe you thanks, or you want to read one of my soapbox moments, be sure to catch it. * G *

Anyhoo, enough chit chat, without further adieu, "Starcrossed Ch.2" . well a little excerpt from chapter 1 then on to two, but let's not get technical. * bg *

*********************************************************************** From Ch. 1

"Wrong move Joe." Mac muttered, then 'pop!' the noise of another shot rang, this time his right leg was the target.

"F**K!!!" The pain seared through his leg and was immense, yet his initial instinct, urge, was to jump her. But Joe was all too aware, even in his inebriated state, that Mac wouldn't hesitate to end his life right then and there. Her gumption and marksmanship were no longer in question.

Screwing his face in hate, he spat. "I don't need you! I never did, never wanted you two to begin with! Let's see how far you make it without dear old dad to pay for your measly existences! You can both rot in hell as far as I care!"

Grabbing his keys he fumbled out of the house muttering, "Undeserving, ungrateful wenches, waste of ."

Mac, still holding up the Beretta, had warily watched as Joe bypassed her to get to the front door.

She watched as he got into his beaten up truck and drove off, quite erratically.

"Stupid man. Drunk and injured is no way to be on the road, " Mac whispered, while at the same time sending a prayer heavenward, something she'd long ago stopped doing, that no harm would come to anyone else due to his driving.

Feeling weariness take over, Mac managed to shuffle herself back to the lounge where Diane still lay before her energy went caput. Crumpling to the ground beside her sister, Mac, with her remaining strength, curled up behind Diane, throwing her arms over her and whispered, "It's all right Diane. He's gone. He'll never hurt us again. No one will ever hurt you again. I promise."

And then she wept, wept for the mother who abandoned them, the father who beat them, and the innocence that was stolen from them.

Exhaustion finally claimed Sarah Mackenzie, and in her sleep she was free . free of the burdens her life had imposed on her.

But with no mother and no father what did the future hold for these two young souls?

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Starcrossed-First Tango Chapter 2a

2145HRS ZULU (1645HRS EST) Friday, October 14th, 1978 Yuma, Arizona

"MOM, MOM, MOOOOMMMM!!!!" Dan screamed at the top of his lungs while barreling through his front door.

Jane Schonke's hurried footsteps could be heard on the hardwood floors on the story above as she yelled back frantically. "Daniel, Daniel, good god what is it?!"

Finally spotting his mother coming down the stairs the 11 year old flung himself at her, nearly causing her to topple down the few remaining steps she'd had to go before hitting the entryway floor.

Feeling her son shake, Jane wrapped her arms around him and tried to calm him down while attempting to quell her own fears. God, she wondered, what could have upset him so?

Managing to get his breathing under control, Dan burst out saying the first thing that came to his mind . his first worry. "MOM! I think . I think . Mac's . Mac's ." he couldn't say it. Saying it would make it real. Shaking his head he buried his face further into the folds of his mother's skirt.

Getting further alarmed, Jane soothingly rubbed Dan's back and whispered as calmly as she could. "Honey, calm down, whatever it is it'll be all right." It wasn't until after she'd said these words did Mac's name register with her. "Honey, what's wrong with Mac?" Fear like she'd never known encased her heart at the sobs that erupted from him. Though the young thing who was her child's best friend held no familial ties, she was the closest thing to a daughter Jane had and the idea of any harm coming to Mac did not sit well with her at all.

Deciding that soothing tactics weren't working she did the only other thing she could think of. Gently pushing him away from her, she pulled herself together and belted out. "Daniel Ian Schonke, front and center now!"

It was unknown to her as to whether it was a matter of genes or Dan's acute desire to follow in his father's footsteps, the command registered, and he immediately straightened up and quieted down. Not wanting to see how long her luck would hold she immediately started throwing questions at him, further spurred on by his appearance: His elbows were scraped badly, the back of his pants and legs seemed to have a light dusting of dirt and his eyes . the poor boy's eyes were filled with . dread.

"Where did you just barrel in from Schonke?"

"Mac's house ma'am." Dan shot back, head held high, voice strong.

Nodding her head in approval Jane continued. "What happened to you there, the scrapes-?"

"Mac's dad shoved me a little, he wanted me to leave I wouldn't, I lost my balance and fell." His voice wobbled a little, just a little, but Jane was still proud that he'd managed to reign in whatever worries had lead him to his earlier hysterics. It was now she who had to quash the sudden buildup of emotion within her. {How dare he lay a hand on my son!!} Pushing her anger aside, for the time being, she continued on with her interrogation.

"What were you doing there?"

Here, Dan stalled. Taking in a deep breath he finally began. "I walked Mac home, she had bruises on her wrists, I was worried. Something was wrong, she lied to me about getting her wires crossed with her sis, but that isn't important mom. I went over there because I couldn't see her in her bedroom from my room and then when I heard a cry, I'm sure her cry out, I . I just had to go." The tears were back now. He'd seen her body, against the wall . she looked . she looked .

"Dan, what's wrong?" Jane pleaded, not being able to stand the obvious agony her son was in.

Unable to keep it in any longer, he once again threw himself in to the comfort of his mother's embrace. "SHE'S DEAD MOM .she's dead!"

Jane's heart stopped for a sec. {Dead .} "Daniel, son, what did you see?"

"Mac mom, I saw Mac's dead body." "I knocked on the door, and he wouldn't open it up completely, so I kinda pushed at the door a little and that's when I saw her. She was lying crumpled against the wall in their hallway."

Lifting his head up to look in to her eyes he whimpered, "There were SO many bruises mom. So many. She looked so . broken."

"Okay you listen to me here Daniel." Lifting his chin up and holding it steady she stared in to his eyes. "You call your father and then the police, then sit here to wait for either to arrive."

"Where are you going?" he asked. He didn't want to be alone, he didn't want to sit and wait and worry and run over what he'd seen in his mind over and over again. He wanted to be in his mother's arms, he wanted to be playing and laughing with Mac. He DID NOT want to be fearing that the worst had happened and she was really . gone.

Straightening, Jane guided Dan to the living room and sat him in the big cushioned chair by the phone.

"I'm going to ." *BANG *

Whirling around Jane waited, not believing what she'd heard. Seconds ticked by, then minutes.

Thinking that perhaps she'd imagined it in her highly worried state she turned to answer Dan's question when . * BANG * This time the sudden grip Daniel placed on her arm went a long way in reassuring her that it hadn't simply been her mind playing tricks on her.

Jumping into action she uncurled Dan's fingers that were still digging into her arm and grabbed for the phone, dialing 911 she quickly handed it over to Dan and told him in a hurry as she was rushing out the door. "Tell them Daniel, tell them what you told me!"

She hadn't bothered in her instructions to him on his accounting of the events to include his hearing of the gunshots, figuring it went without saying and was definitely not something he needed voiced out loud.

Jane wasn't your typical military wife, if there were such things; she'd been part of the Company before she'd met and fallen in love with Jonathan Schonke and thus wasn't one to shy away from dangerous situations when they presented themselves. Especially when little ones were involved.

As she was hopping over the low fence that separated her front yard from that of the Mackenzie's she heard another shot. Stilling for only a moment, she contemplated as to whether or not to dash back home to grab her own firearm before heading any further.

Her decision was made for her when a still grumbling Joe Mackenzie stumbled out in front of her and made his way across the yard to his truck.

Jane was tempted to reach out and strangle the man for the harm he'd done Dan, but more so for the damage she knew awaited her inside the man's home. She'd noted his wounded leg and judging by the trail of blood he'd left behind, it wasn't a nick either.

Cautiously she made her way up the front steps and in to the Mackenzie home, her eyes immediately searching the hallway before her for the prone body she was expecting. No Mac, but a streak of blood was very visible on the wall across from the living room entrance.

Approaching it, she felt the knot in her stomach getting tighter as she listened for any sign of life in the house. Nothing. Not a creak, drip- drop, tick-tock, a whimper, cry, or ragged breath, other than her own.

Bending down in front of the streak of blood she was pleased to note that there wasn't much else there. Hopefully this was a sign that Mac's injuries were superficial at best. {Here's hoping.} As she was getting back up, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted more blood, the trail she'd absently noted on her way in, suspecting it was Joe's and not caring on her entrance to follow it. But now .

Standing in front of the living room entrance, her feet stilled as her eyes continued to follow the spattering of red, all the way to . she blinked once, twice, and then froze.

Though a part of her had already registered the huddled mass in the middle of the living room for what it was, the rest of her was simply . at a loss. This could not be a child, a little girl.

On wobbly feet, the part of her brain that was still functioning pushed her forward and towards the form before her. Not until reaching it did she realize that it wasn't 'a' form, but 'forms'.

"Oh god." She gasped. In her concern for Mac she'd completely forgotten that there were two Mackenzie girls.

Gathering her resolve, she crouched down to touch the outermost body, pausing when her leg made contact with something. Gazing down, Jane came across a Beretta. Quickly she whipped out a handkerchief, picked up and then wrapped the weapon in it before pocketing the whole mess, enabling her to return her attention to the girls before her.

"Breathe Jane", she ordered as her fingers hesitantly found the pulse point on Mac's (whom she'd finally been able to identify) neck.

"God damn it no!" There was no pulse. The slight tremble in her hand accelerated to an all out shake and it took her longer than in should have to calm it down.

Reaching out for another try .

"Move away from them now! Slow and steady!"

Forgetting she was still in a crouch, Jane whirled around at the command and as a result fell back on to the floor.

After getting her bearings she slowly climbed to her knees then her feet, holding her hands out in front of her, she attempted to reassure the men, that she could now see were the reinforcements, that she wasn't the bad guy.

"Officers, my name is Jane Schonke. I live next door, it was my son who called you."

When the officers continued to look at her guardedly she let out a frustrated breath. "Gentlemen, these girls need help. I've got some medical training and I'd like to do what I can until the paramedics get here. Please!"

Her plea was an unnecessary one, for as soon as she'd uttered the words the paramedics came rushing through, followed closely by a harried Dan and Jonathan.

"Jon!" The relief at seeing her husband seemed to overwhelm her and Jane almost lost her footing, but her respite was short lived.

The two EMS workers who had swarmed the room were now at Mac and Diane's side, attempting to separate the girls. Their first attempt to do so had awakened Mac, stilling Jeremy's hands at the sheer fright present in the big brown eyes that stared up at him.

Mac, not fully coherent, began to struggle seeing the strangers before her, and it was her whimpers that had brought Jane back to her side.

Reaching out to touch the child, she attempted to soothe Mac's worries but didn't get too far. Mac refused to let go of the hold she had on Diane.

Dan who'd been standing by his dad, saw Mac struggling against those who were trying to help and managed to rush past the police and away from his father before either had noticed. Sitting by Mac's head, he looked in to her eyes and whispered. "It's all right Mac. It's going to be okay." Slowly he reaches out a hand to lay on the crown of her head and began to softly stroke her hair. "These people are here to help you and Diane. Please let them" Still seeing her hesitation he asked her, "Do you trust me?" Mac nodded her head in the affirmative. "Then please, please trust me now. Trust me enough to believe that I would never let anyone hurt you or Diane."

All the adults present held their collective breaths. Another nod accompanied by the loosening of Mac's arms were her only answer.

Jeremy and his partner, Mark, quickly went about getting the stretcher they had with them ready for Mac. But she pulled away at their touch. "Diane first," was the quiet demand.

Glancing at each other, both EMS workers agreed to abide by the child's request, figuring they wouldn't get anywhere if they didn't. But once again, they're attempts to reach out to the huddled masses were halted by the younger girl's hoarse whisper.

"Her back. Hurt." To illustrate her statement, she slowly and carefully, pulled herself completely away from Diane.

The "Oh father in heaven!" that Jane let out simultaneously with Jeremy's curse brought the quiet chatter in the room to a stand still.

Dan didn't say anything; his only reaction was to shuffle closer to Mac, wanting to somehow protect her from the damage that had already been done. Despite the pain encompassing her body, Mac managed a smile for him.

The interaction between the two brought Jane to tears. Quickly standing she walked over to her husband, needing his strength, to feel the comfort of his arms. In his embrace, her barriers fell and she broke down in to quiet sobs.

Having settled Diane on to the stretcher, on her stomach, both Jeremy and Mark took her out to the ambulance and got her settled in before grabbing another stretcher for Mac.

Jeremy crouched by her head, so that he was easily within her visibility. "Okay kiddo, we've got your sister settled. You ready to let us do our jobs in regards to you now?"

Sticking to her current state of communication-head nods-she was about to once again give the affirmative when a coughing fit overcame her. Tilting her head to the side, her legs curled inwards, she braced herself as the coughs shook her broken body.

"Help her! Help her!" Dan pleaded, gripping tightly on to Jeremy's arm, his eyes turning more frantic at the blood that was dribbling out of Mac's mouth.

"Oh shit!" Gently uncurling Mac, he rolled her back on to her back and continued to examine her. He'd felt the lump on the back of her head and having spotted the streak of blood on the wall on his way out the first time round, he suspected the cause. Hearing her breathing and feeling his way down her ribs, he speculated as to a few other things: cracked ribs, perhaps a punctured lung, and internal bleeding, along with a dislocated shoulder, broken wrist and multiple contusions.

Seeing his partner through his peripheral vision he snapped. "Damn it Mark, we should have had her out first!"

Not bothering with any further conversation he, with Mark's help, settled Mac on to the stretcher after having braced her neck and head. No need to make matters worse by adding a spinal injury.

As they wheeled her out, Dan quietly trotted beside them, not wanting or planning to leave Mac's side. Unfortunately the paramedics thought otherwise.

"I'm sorry man you can't come with us, no room in the back." Jeremy truly was sorry this time. He could see the sorrow and fear in the kid's eyes for his friend. It got past the barriers he'd long ago built to get him through similar situations. Though he couldn't ever remember a 'similar' situation in the ten years since he'd started.

"Is alright Dan. See ya ta hos'ital." Mac's voice filtered out from the open ambulance doors.

Before losing his nerve, Dan hoped in to the ambulance, bent down by Mac's side and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "I'll see you at the hos'ital." He teased at her inability to pronounce the 'p' in hospital.

Jumping back out he gave a silent thank you to the paramedics and then walked over to his parents who were waiting by his dad's jeep.

From a walk he sped up to a jog and then a run, until he'd reached his parents and was able to cling on to his father's legs.

The tears came, first one drop and then another, until it was an all out downpour.

Holding Dan tightly, Jon looked at his wife, with tears in his owns eyes to be greeted by another set of wet cheeks.

"Why dad? Why?" Not knowing how to answer a question he himself was asking, Jon's grip tightened. A resolve like no other settled in to his heart. No one was ever going to hurt those girls again, not as long as he was living and breathing. Looking in to the eyes of his other half, he saw the same resolve present. With a simultaneous nod they both held on to Dan before pulling away. "Come on, it's time we head on over."

Guiding Dan to the backseat of the jeep, Jane settled herself beside, holding on to him as though she'd never let go again. She caught Jon's eyes glancing back at her through the rearview mirror and the ache in her heart eased somewhat at the smile he cast her way.

Things were going to be all right, they were going to make it all right.

Tbc. *************

A/N: I guess I should have informed you all of this in Ch.1, but oh well, better late than never. The concepts, passion for this story as with the case that will come up in "A Chance Encounter" were inspired by a HUGE debate in my sociology lecture. The debate being: abusive alcoholics and pedophilias, should their actions be considered a crime or acts incurred by an 'ill' individual, thus allowing them to reap the benefits of a conviction of 'mental illness' and excusing their heinous crimes b/c they weren't in error, they were 'ill'. I'm hoping that you've been able to gather which side of the debate I was on. I will and have forgiven a great deal of injustices in the world, but acts such as these against children are not one of them. One of my colleagues asked me if it were my brother who'd committed either of the crimes would I be so quick to judge; I'd be the first one to throw the book at him, would go as far as to actually give him a not so gentle helping kick in to his cell. Children are the most defenseless of us and our duty is to protect them from the evils of the world not subjugate them to it. Okay I've gotten off my soapbox. Now on to the 'Thank yous':

Tania: * BLUSH * Thank you. Umm . incredible huh? Oh boy, the pressures on! * G *

SailorGurl & Kitty: Thank you SO much gals! I'm glad you're enjoying it so much and I'm sorry this wasn't as soon of a post as you'd requested *sheepish smile * I'll try my darndest to post as frequently as I possibly can. But this story has a life of its own, so if you want faster chapters you'll have to talk to its muse and hope RL doesn't get in the way! *G*

EvilTwinToo: There will be happier times ahead, for who and how much I cannot say . yet, for all will be revealed in good time my good fellow! * G* But don't worry; I'm sure you'll love it. I feel you're a kindred spirit and wouldn't at all mind if I got away from the extreme sorrow. So keep reading and hopefully you'll keep enjoying!

Ysabet: Oh my . you've made me doubly blush! Wow . what a wonderful review. I'm really pleased that you were able to get so intimate with the characters, I don't think there's more great a praise than being told one can relate with ones characters. THANK YOU! I hope to keep you this hooked throughout this little adventure we've started and I'll promise to keep not only the sisters but Dan as well, as safe as I possibly can.

GTRider: Okay I left you till last b/c I have so much to say. oh man, I broke in to fits of laughter after I read the first part of your review. I don't know if that was your intent but thank you just the same. The only reason I haven't posted "your" story yet is b/c it's taking too darn long! I'm having to do quite a bit of research on the legalities behind what I'm attempting, after all I wouldn't want it being completely unbelievable. But you've been so sweet w/ your feedback that I'll try my very best to get it out soon. Good enough? :o)" . markings of something great." Oh my goodness . must you have said that, I've begun to fret now. Please do email me and share exactly what your ideas of something great entail b/c I'm not sure if you're going to be too pleased w/ where I'm headed w/ this. I don't want to torture these two through out the story! But I do hope, that you'll continue to follow me where I take you, b/c despite it not (hopefully) being angst all the way, I think it will be a . unique and somewhat special journey. And yup, it's perfectly safe to assume who Diane is. Read on to find out exactly how Diane Schonke came to be. :o)

Thank you one and all for your feedbacks, it does honestly brighten up my day and pushes me to keep on writing!