CHAP 11 Wednesday 0600 Local USS Seahawk Somewhere in the Persian Gulf

Mac awoke in the dark bunk and had to remind herself of where she was. Her internal clock told her that it was 0600, and she knew that that was just too early to be awake. The long flight and the several hours of planning a review she had no intention of carrying out had exhausted both her body and her mind. It was an unusual feeling for her.

In the bunk below her, Kate was already stirring. She'd swung her legs over the side of the bunk. She's worn plain navy blue cotton shorts and a white tank top to bed. As she stood up and stretched, Mac was reminded of the time she'd jumped out of bed in almost identical attire and seen two young seamen standing just inside her door. She smiled to herself and sat up.

"G'morning," she yawned. Kate nearly hit the ceiling, and Mac added, "Didn't mean to scare you, Lieutenant."

Kate held her hand to her chest, and shook her head at playfully at Mac. "Good morning, ma'am."

Kate turned around and began to pull her short hair as if she was going to put it into a ponytail. Halfway through the motions she stopped suddenly and let her hair fall. Mac recognized the gesture. "It was like that when I chopped mine off," she said as she jumped down from her bunk. Kate smiled back wistfully.

"I don't miss the weight," she admitted, "But I really miss the feel of my hair."

Mac smiled, trying to commiserate with her friend. They both dressed quickly, Mac into her khaki and olive, and Kate into her plain khaki. As Kate buttoned her shirt, Mac caught sight of the still healing wound in her abdomen. When she heard the sharp intake of breath, Kate knew what Mac had seen.

The wound, though originally only two inches long, was now a five-inch angry red scar. It had had to be elongated by the surgeons who had struggled to save her life just four months ago. As a Marine, Mac had seen many wounds, but seeing this wound was different. Kate was a friend, and this wound was a reminder, or a warning, of what they were now up against.

"Ma'am," Kate said softly, "Are you alright?"

Mac nodded. "I'm fine Lieutenant," she said in her best Marine voice. "Let's go."

"Yes, ma'am." Kate turned away and quickly finished her dressing and pulled her short hair back into a half ponytail, the ends flipped out, making her look like five years younger.

They met up with Harm in the mess hall, waiting in line for breakfast. Harm had already tracked down Skates and was talking flying. Mac rolled her eyes at her partners back as she filled her coffee cup. Kate kept her face turned down and her nose buried in a manila folder.

"Lieutenant, give me that folder and get some food," Harm said taking the file from her.

Kate looked up wide-eyed. "Yes, sir."

Skates watched after her, smiling quizzically. "She reminds me of someone," she mused, and then snapped her fingers, "Is she related to Lieutenant Roberts?"

Harm laughed heartily. Now that he thought about it, Kate had been a lot like Bud since they had landed on the carrier. She'd followed him and Mac around taking notes, reading obscure files, and gazing openly at the other sailors with an almost dreamy look on her face.

When they'd finished their breakfast, they headed to the legal office, where Lieutenant Carlisle was already seated at his desk preparing more files for their review. There was a stack almost a foot tall teetering on the corner of his desk. "Commander, Colonel, good morning," he said as he rose from his chair. "Lieutenant," he said in a much more friendly tone to Kate. He smiled warmly, causing his glasses to slide farther down his nose.

Kate blushed, and took the pile of folders from his desk. She settled them on the side table and began flipping through so fast that it was impossible that she was reading at all. Lieutenant Carlisle seemed to remember that Harm and Mac were in the room as well, and turned his attention back to his desk. Harm and Mac shared a curious look before they too plunged into the files.

For the next hour, the four of them pored over the many files still scattered around Lieutenant Carlisle's small office. Harm had read and re- read the same paragraph three times before he gave up. He looked up and saw that Mac was sitting rigidly in her chair, her eyes closed and her face closed. When she opened her eyes, Harm tried to convey his concern to her. She, seeing his concern, smiled reassuringly at him and shrugged . She picked up the folder she had been reading and bent back over the desk.

Another hour had passed before they had finally found the file they'd been waiting to discover. Kate picked it up, and walked to Lieutenant Carlisle's desk. "This case has yet to be completed, ma'am," she said handing the file to Mac.

Mac skimmed the contents of the file as Harm stood and read them over her shoulder. Lieutenant Carlisle looked a bit disconcerted and was shifting in his chair.

"Lieutenant Carlisle, this investigation should have been completed weeks ago," Harm said, pinning the junior officer with a stern glare.

"Which investigation, sir?" Carlisle asked uncertainly.

"The Harrison investigation," Mac said, almost annoyed. "Petty Officer Abdul Jihara."

Carlisle looked at her blankly; he obviously had no recollection of the file. "It says here that he was found with an Iraqi passport in his name. Why wasn't this investigated?"

"I don't know, sir," Carlisle said plainly embarrassed. "I don't remember an investigation of any sailor by that name."

"It's dated from about a month ago," Mac said, "How long have you been aboard?"

"Twenty-two days, ma'am."

Mac nodded. "Looks like your predecessor missed a pretty major investigation. Or let it slide."

"Ma'am, maybe we should contact someone at immigration," Kate suggested in her best Bud imitation yet. "Maybe he was an Iraqi citizen who'd come to the US and joined up."

"Or, he could be a spy for Al Queda," Harm mused. "Lieutenant Carlisle, I don't want you to share this with anyone, understood?"

"Yes, sir," Carlisle replied, still thunderstruck.

"The Colonel and I will take it from here. Will you excuse us?" Lieutenant Carlisle snapped to attention, and when Harm nodded he left the office. "Lieutenant Walden, I want you to arrange a phone call for me to JAG HQ. I need to speak with Admiral Chegwidden."

"Aye, sir," Kate said and left the room; all the pieces had fallen exactly into place.