A/N: I just decided to do away with the time thing. It's just too hard to keep up with it in my head. I'll try to keep you up dated on the location changes though. Thanks for reading again. I can't believe how much I've updated. Thanks for sticking with me.

Red Chute Bayou

Liz ran faster than she had in her entire life. She had no idea where she had come up with the strength to do what she just did. The last time there was a gun pointed to her head, she'd froze in fear as her fiancé was shot in front of her. Taking a second to catch her breath and take a puff of her inhaler, she let the memory fade. There was no use in dwelling in the past. The future was now, and she was in deep trouble.

She started running again after a quick check back. She had no idea where she was going. She just knew that staying to the road was bad, but so way going farther into the bayou. But she took her chances with the bayou. Maybe when she had some distance she could use the cell phone she'd managed to grab. Sure she thought about grabbing the gun, but she'd never learned to use one. * There's always a first time for everything. * She thought to herself. Another fleeting thought she had was that she should let her mother know she was all right. But at the same time, she didn't really care. Her mother and her feelings weren't the top priority right now. The gunshot that sounded behind her reminded Liz of this fact very quickly. "Time to find some cover." She told herself. High ground was looking better and better. Here's hoping she didn't break her neck climbing a tree. Heaven forbid.

JAG Offices Admiral's office

"Ok here's the plan. The S&R has already taken off to search the area. We're ETA 5 minutes to depart for the rendezvous point. Once there we'll split up with S&D and hunt them both down. Everyone down there already knows that they are to use any force necessary to capture Palmer. Any questions?" Webb asked as he held the icepack to his nose. Mac and Harm nodded a no and began to walk out of the office. Suddenly Harm realized that they'd never really gotten permission to go after Liz and Palmer. "Go Commander. Just bring her and the Colonel back in one piece." AJ told them. Nodding Harm went in search of her partner.

Mac was at Harriet's desk, leaving instructions for Jingo and waiting for Harm. She didn't really trust herself to be around Webb right now. "Harriet, she has the cell phone. If she calls or heaven forbid he calls, we're on our cells. Thanks for taking care of Jingo." Mac told her friend. "Just bring her back ma'am. Take care of yourself. You too Commander." As they made their way to the elevators, both Sturgis and Bud got off. "Where are you three off to?" Sturgis asked, noting the seriousness in their walk and on their faces. "Ask the Admiral. We'll be back." Harm told them, offering a smile in apology. He was sure that they could handle things here. It was Mac he was unsure of.

Red Chute Bayou 50 miles South East of Shreveport (If that's not true, then all my relatives in LA can shoot me.)

Liz climbed up the first thing resembling a tree. As she made her way up, she heard footsteps fast approaching and hid behind some large branches. Minutes later, Clark entered the clearing. He was not too happy, that Liz could clearly tell. The area around his eyes was puffy and red. "Come out come out wherever you are! I hate playing games Ms. Thompson. If you think you can outlast me until your sister and that damn boy scout get here, then I've got news for you. I was trained by our government to hunt people, especially people that'd pissed us off. You my dear have landed at the very top of a short list." Palmer yelled.

Liz tried not to move. She was starting to take him seriously. It took either a very smart person to plan all that he had, or a deranged person. *I'm thinking option number two Alex. * Liz thought to herself. She wanted to badly to yell back at him, but to do so would reveal her location and that's the last thing she wanted. "Here's what I can't understand Ms. Thompson. You had a chance to try to wrestle the gun away from me, turn the tables and end this chase before it started. Why didn't you?" He asked. He was genuinely curious. Liz knew the answer, but there was no way he was going to find out.

In the Air over Kentucky

Mac sat in barely contained silence. They were aboard Porter Webb's private jet streaking as fast as the jet could go towards her sister. *Things were going a little too perfectly in my life. * She thought as she checked and rechecked her service weapon. Harm noticed her cautious movements and went to sit down next to her. "So what do you want to have for dinner when we get back?" He asked. Mac turned her head and looked incredulously at him. "My sister could be dead and all you can think about." Mac began, but Harm cut her off.

"I was asking for two reasons Marine: 1) So you would forget just a moment about your gun and 2) because you need to take a break and relax. Besides, I think that I owe you dinner, because the initial reason we were called into the Admiral's office was because of me." He told her. Mac mustered a smile. Even in the middle of some sort of crisis, he'd managed to get her to relax, for just a brief second. "Thank you. You're forgetting that the bet was that whoever it wasn't about had to make dinner, so what do you want for dinner?" She asked. She'd caught him at his own game.

"Funny Marine. Hey, you still mad at Clay? I've seen him want to come over here and talk strategy with us, but I think he's afraid you'll shoot him." Harm told her, taking the gun from her hands. "Can't shoot him Harm. It'll depressurize the cabin. Sides, if we die, then she'll die and Palmer will still be free." Mac muttered. *AHA! * Harm thought. He'd gotten to the bottom of the story after all. "She sounds like a smart kid Mac. I'm sure she's out of his reach for now. At least she won't be alone for much longer. S&R will be there shortly to find her." He told her. Just as he'd finished, Webb walked over.

"Somehow I get the feeling this isn't a good visit Webb." Harm noted. "Well, I'm sure I'll get another broken nose on top of this one, but I just got a call from Barksdale. They had to recall the troops. The Colonel said something about needing them for another operation. He wasn't really forth coming with information. The good news is that we're only about an hour away from landing in Shreveport." Clay told them. (AN. I know, I know. They were just over Kentucky, but maybe they were on the other side, like the west side. Work with me people. I know zilch about how long it takes to fly. I'm usually sleeping.)

Mac continued to look out the window when she spoke. "I don't blame you Clay. I know what kind of a character Palmer can be. Harm knows better than all of us. But so help me if I get to him first." Harm and Webb looked at each other. They both realized that this entire situation had become more personal for Sarah Mackenzie than they had wished. Heaven help them if Palmer did hurt Liz. Maybe heaven would be on their side this time.

Red Chute Bayou

Liz was getting tired and her legs were starting to hurt. After Palmer's last outburst, she had decided to move down the tree a little and wait for an opportunity to run again. Unfortunately, she found herself crouching on a branch that she was surprised was still holding her. Night was beginning to fall (A/N: Heaven help me if I messed this up.) and it was like the bayou was becoming something completely different. "Well this is certainly different than Arizona dry heat any day." Liz muttered as she tried to get comfortable. There was a bulge in her pocket that was poking her kidneys to death.

She carefully balanced and took the device out and just about let out a whoop of joy. "The cell phone! Sometimes I amaze even myself." She muttered once again. She opened the cover and was surprised to discover that there was still a bit of power left in the darn thing. She quickly looked for the last number called and made sure that Palmer was still in his last position. Then she prayed that someone answered the phone.

JAG Bullpen

Lt. Sims' Desk

Harriet finished organizing her desk and shut down her computer. It had been one heck of a day. The Colonel and the Commander had left a couple of hours ago and she supposed that no news was good news. "Ready to go honey?" Bud asked his wife. When he and Sturgis had gotten back from court, Harriet had immediately filled them in. Sturgis had gone to call his father and Bud had gone to find the Admiral. "Just about Bud. Had the Admiral heard anything yet?" She asked as she opened her bottom desk drawer to retrieve her purse. "I'm afraid not Lt." Both husband and wife quickly jumped to attention as their CO walked towards them. "At ease. I assume that you two are headed out?" He asked. "Yes sir." Bud answered for them as they headed towards the elevators.

Harriet grabbed her purse and followed behind them just as her phone rang. Dropping the purse she grabbed the phone on the second ring. "JAG Headquarters, Lt. Sims." She answered, hoping it was good news. She listened intently to the voice on the other line. "Are you alright? Can he see you? Ok.hang on. I'm going to get your sister's CO. Just sit tight." Harriet turned to find both her husband and her CO back at her desk. "It's the Colonel's sister sir." Harriet told him as she handed him the phone. "Ms. Thompson? Yes. I wish it could be under different circumstances. Listen just call me AJ for now. Where is Palmer? You're sure he can't hear you? Ok here's what we know so far." AJ began as Harriet pulled Bud away.

"Do you still have the Colonel's cell phone number programmed into your phone?" Harriet asked, searching her husband's pockets while he mildly protested. "Harriet it's right here, why?" He asked. "The Colonel told me to call her if Liz called here. Webb might have a way to track the call and get a better location on finding her once they land." Bud nodded and handed over his phone. "Speed Dial 5 Harriet. I'll go call Commander Turner." Bud said as he headed back to his office. He hoped that Commander Turner's father had some good prayers to send out. They all needed them.