The Spider and the Fly XIII
Harm stared unfocused out of the passenger window of the NCIS standard issue sedan. They had been going at it for almost 12 hours straight and he was beginning to feel tired. The flat terrain of Maryland's Eastern Shore passed by uneventfully.
He had played catch-up from the beginning. He reminded himself that Gibbs had three months of work invested in this little operation. He had exactly ten days, most of which was spent in Paraguay running from Saddiq. There hadn't been time or opportunity to mull over background reports or sift through reams of intelligence.
It was more than that. Gibb's had an inexhaustible supply of people inside NCIS he could tap for help and information. Harm's network inside the CIA was exactly three. Two of which were too senior to help with the mundane details of intell work and the last was lying in a hospital in Baltimore. Harm was beginning to appreciate people like Harriet, Coates, Tiner and Gunny more and more.
It had been Gibbs' proposal that they spend a couple of days driving the length of Chesapeake Bay. Harm found it an interesting suggestion. Attending the Naval Academy and living in DC had meant that he had spent over 20 years living near this huge and important estuary of water. He had vacationed here. He had worked here. But this was the first time he looked at it from a terrorist's point of view.
They had started driving south toward the mouth of the Bay. For the last three days they had wandered along shoreline roads, getting a feel for military installations, power plants, remote and isolated bays. Anything that might give an indication of Saddiq's intentions. They crossed the bridge/tunnel system at the mouth of the bay yesterday and started driving north up the Delmarva Peninsula.
Harm thought about enormity of the task they were undertaking. The Chesapeake was roughly 200 miles long and 30 miles at its widest point. Forty-eight large rivers and 100's of smaller creeks drain into the bay. That included both the Potomac and the Susquehanna. Over 15 million people live on or near the bay.
Its numerous bays and inlets meant it is a boater's paradise with 4400 miles of shoreline and 175,000 registered pleasure craft. Two major ports of commerce at Baltimore and Hampton Roads process roughly 90 million tons of imports and exports per year.
The significance of the Bay to United States military was incalculable. Nearly 50 bases representing every branch of the military were located near or on the bay. Naval Station Norfolk positioned at the mouth of the Chesapeake is considered to be the largest military installation in the world. It is the hub for activities in the European and the Central Command theatres of operation.
There was no doubt about it. Any successful terrorist attack in this region would carry enormous political and symbolic significance both here and abroad.
Harm stole a glance at his companion. It had been three days now and he knew little more about Gibbs. Gibbs on the other hand, seemed to have endless knowledge of Harm's career and life, thanks to his in-depth investigation during the murder trial.
Although it was irritating, Harm found it hard to fault him for that. Progress to date had been slow on this case, but he couldn't fault his approach. So far, Gibbs had been forth coming when it was warranted and when it was not he was silent. Harm grinned wryly to himself. Did this guy ever make a mistake?
It was not so much what Gibbs said but how he acted that gave Harm one clue to his background. Gibbs regarded Harm's military career of Annapolis, flight school, fighter pilot and JAG lawyer as privileged. Gibb's own rise through the non-commissioned ranks of the Marine Corps spoke of a rougher life. Quitting the Corps then joining NCIS made Harm wonder. Too bad he couldn't get a good look at this guy's service record.
Harm rolled his shoulder in an effort to relieve the cramping. Both his height and his shoulder wound made these long driving sessions uncomfortable.
"I'm stopping," said Gibbs. "It's a two and half hour drive back to DC. We can stay here for the night."
Harm creased his brows together. Gotta love this guy's conversational style. No asking what Harm thought of the suggestion. Just this. But Harm supported his idea. The thought of the drive home was not appealing. Besides, maybe he could grab some of those files in Gibbs' brief case and review again the known intelligence to date.
He pulled into a nondescript motel next to a restaurant/bar with the innocuous name of 'Sandy's.' Harm shot him a sidelong glance and groaned internally. He could already feel the shoddy quality of the mattress.
"We could learn more there," said Gibbs pointing to the bar, "then a lounge full of business men at the Hampton Inn."
Harm said nothing. Maybe Gibbs' manner was rubbing off on him.
#
Gibbs watched from his perch at the smoky, noisy bar as Harm made his way towards him. The ex-commander said that he needed to make a couple of calls.
He studied the man. He was easy to pick out in a crowd, his 6 foot 4 inch height made him taller than most people in the room. He was dressed in jeans and a light but long sleeved, black collarless shirt. At least he knew better than to wear that expensive suit he was wearing at Langley, thought Gibbs deprecatingly.
Gibbs tried to guess who he was calling. Reporting into the deputy director? Probably. Phoning Mac? Gibbs wondered. It was obvious to him whatever relationship Harm had with the Colonel was not in the open. Was he involved in an unlawful relationship between two officers in the same chain of command? Somehow he didn't think so. Rabb didn't look like the type to sneak around. It was his bet that Rabb had feelings for the colonel that he had never acted upon. Until Paraguay? Maybe.
Gibbs was surprised at how well the investigation had gone. Rabb had interfered very little with the course he wanted to take. He concentrated instead on catching himself up on the reams of intelligence reports generated over the last months. Good choice. Maybe he will be of some help after all.
Gibbs narrowed his eyes. A man with his record wouldn't stay in the background for long. He wondered when Harm would assert himself.
"I ordered you a beer," he said as Harm sat down.
"Harm," supplied Harm.
Gibbs looked quizzically at him.
"Even though you don't say it, I can almost hear the 'commander' at the end of every sentence. And for some reason, you won't say my name either," he said.
"I ordered you a beer, Harm," said Gibbs.
Harm looked at the label on the bottle. It was a Heineken. He noticed Gibbs was drinking Bud. Another not so subtle commentary on how Gibbs viewed Harm's life?
Gibbs started again. "Harm. Harmon. Sounds like it should be a last name, not a first one. Don't you think?"
Actually it sounds like you are just trying to get under my skin, thought Harm. Maybe I better change the direction of this conversation.
"Any ideas on how we are going to narrow the course of this investigation?" he said.
"Not yet."
"The Eastern Shore is sleepy and quiet. Lots of little deserted bays to hide in," said Harm.
"Yeah, but distance to a significant target is a factor. I really don't think this is where we are going to find what we are looking for," said Gibbs.
Harm agreed with him. "What are we looking for?"
"Something will jump out."
"So what's next?"
"Blackadder and Dinnozo have located a gentleman who might be of interest to us. He is being held on violations of his visa in Baltimore. They believe he might have some connection to this case. We are going to see if he wants to make a deal."
"Do you have any background on him?"
"They have emailed me a file. I'll print out a copy for you tonight."
Harm watched as the pretty and very young waitress approached their table. She smiled broadly at Gibbs. Addressing him directly, she asked if she could get them something to eat. She was obviously flirting with him. Harm stole a sidelong glance at Gibbs. He was attractive, sort of, thought Harm.
They continued to discuss the case over dinner bantering theories back and forth.
Harm stared unfocused out of the passenger window of the NCIS standard issue sedan. They had been going at it for almost 12 hours straight and he was beginning to feel tired. The flat terrain of Maryland's Eastern Shore passed by uneventfully.
He had played catch-up from the beginning. He reminded himself that Gibbs had three months of work invested in this little operation. He had exactly ten days, most of which was spent in Paraguay running from Saddiq. There hadn't been time or opportunity to mull over background reports or sift through reams of intelligence.
It was more than that. Gibb's had an inexhaustible supply of people inside NCIS he could tap for help and information. Harm's network inside the CIA was exactly three. Two of which were too senior to help with the mundane details of intell work and the last was lying in a hospital in Baltimore. Harm was beginning to appreciate people like Harriet, Coates, Tiner and Gunny more and more.
It had been Gibbs' proposal that they spend a couple of days driving the length of Chesapeake Bay. Harm found it an interesting suggestion. Attending the Naval Academy and living in DC had meant that he had spent over 20 years living near this huge and important estuary of water. He had vacationed here. He had worked here. But this was the first time he looked at it from a terrorist's point of view.
They had started driving south toward the mouth of the Bay. For the last three days they had wandered along shoreline roads, getting a feel for military installations, power plants, remote and isolated bays. Anything that might give an indication of Saddiq's intentions. They crossed the bridge/tunnel system at the mouth of the bay yesterday and started driving north up the Delmarva Peninsula.
Harm thought about enormity of the task they were undertaking. The Chesapeake was roughly 200 miles long and 30 miles at its widest point. Forty-eight large rivers and 100's of smaller creeks drain into the bay. That included both the Potomac and the Susquehanna. Over 15 million people live on or near the bay.
Its numerous bays and inlets meant it is a boater's paradise with 4400 miles of shoreline and 175,000 registered pleasure craft. Two major ports of commerce at Baltimore and Hampton Roads process roughly 90 million tons of imports and exports per year.
The significance of the Bay to United States military was incalculable. Nearly 50 bases representing every branch of the military were located near or on the bay. Naval Station Norfolk positioned at the mouth of the Chesapeake is considered to be the largest military installation in the world. It is the hub for activities in the European and the Central Command theatres of operation.
There was no doubt about it. Any successful terrorist attack in this region would carry enormous political and symbolic significance both here and abroad.
Harm stole a glance at his companion. It had been three days now and he knew little more about Gibbs. Gibbs on the other hand, seemed to have endless knowledge of Harm's career and life, thanks to his in-depth investigation during the murder trial.
Although it was irritating, Harm found it hard to fault him for that. Progress to date had been slow on this case, but he couldn't fault his approach. So far, Gibbs had been forth coming when it was warranted and when it was not he was silent. Harm grinned wryly to himself. Did this guy ever make a mistake?
It was not so much what Gibbs said but how he acted that gave Harm one clue to his background. Gibbs regarded Harm's military career of Annapolis, flight school, fighter pilot and JAG lawyer as privileged. Gibb's own rise through the non-commissioned ranks of the Marine Corps spoke of a rougher life. Quitting the Corps then joining NCIS made Harm wonder. Too bad he couldn't get a good look at this guy's service record.
Harm rolled his shoulder in an effort to relieve the cramping. Both his height and his shoulder wound made these long driving sessions uncomfortable.
"I'm stopping," said Gibbs. "It's a two and half hour drive back to DC. We can stay here for the night."
Harm creased his brows together. Gotta love this guy's conversational style. No asking what Harm thought of the suggestion. Just this. But Harm supported his idea. The thought of the drive home was not appealing. Besides, maybe he could grab some of those files in Gibbs' brief case and review again the known intelligence to date.
He pulled into a nondescript motel next to a restaurant/bar with the innocuous name of 'Sandy's.' Harm shot him a sidelong glance and groaned internally. He could already feel the shoddy quality of the mattress.
"We could learn more there," said Gibbs pointing to the bar, "then a lounge full of business men at the Hampton Inn."
Harm said nothing. Maybe Gibbs' manner was rubbing off on him.
#
Gibbs watched from his perch at the smoky, noisy bar as Harm made his way towards him. The ex-commander said that he needed to make a couple of calls.
He studied the man. He was easy to pick out in a crowd, his 6 foot 4 inch height made him taller than most people in the room. He was dressed in jeans and a light but long sleeved, black collarless shirt. At least he knew better than to wear that expensive suit he was wearing at Langley, thought Gibbs deprecatingly.
Gibbs tried to guess who he was calling. Reporting into the deputy director? Probably. Phoning Mac? Gibbs wondered. It was obvious to him whatever relationship Harm had with the Colonel was not in the open. Was he involved in an unlawful relationship between two officers in the same chain of command? Somehow he didn't think so. Rabb didn't look like the type to sneak around. It was his bet that Rabb had feelings for the colonel that he had never acted upon. Until Paraguay? Maybe.
Gibbs was surprised at how well the investigation had gone. Rabb had interfered very little with the course he wanted to take. He concentrated instead on catching himself up on the reams of intelligence reports generated over the last months. Good choice. Maybe he will be of some help after all.
Gibbs narrowed his eyes. A man with his record wouldn't stay in the background for long. He wondered when Harm would assert himself.
"I ordered you a beer," he said as Harm sat down.
"Harm," supplied Harm.
Gibbs looked quizzically at him.
"Even though you don't say it, I can almost hear the 'commander' at the end of every sentence. And for some reason, you won't say my name either," he said.
"I ordered you a beer, Harm," said Gibbs.
Harm looked at the label on the bottle. It was a Heineken. He noticed Gibbs was drinking Bud. Another not so subtle commentary on how Gibbs viewed Harm's life?
Gibbs started again. "Harm. Harmon. Sounds like it should be a last name, not a first one. Don't you think?"
Actually it sounds like you are just trying to get under my skin, thought Harm. Maybe I better change the direction of this conversation.
"Any ideas on how we are going to narrow the course of this investigation?" he said.
"Not yet."
"The Eastern Shore is sleepy and quiet. Lots of little deserted bays to hide in," said Harm.
"Yeah, but distance to a significant target is a factor. I really don't think this is where we are going to find what we are looking for," said Gibbs.
Harm agreed with him. "What are we looking for?"
"Something will jump out."
"So what's next?"
"Blackadder and Dinnozo have located a gentleman who might be of interest to us. He is being held on violations of his visa in Baltimore. They believe he might have some connection to this case. We are going to see if he wants to make a deal."
"Do you have any background on him?"
"They have emailed me a file. I'll print out a copy for you tonight."
Harm watched as the pretty and very young waitress approached their table. She smiled broadly at Gibbs. Addressing him directly, she asked if she could get them something to eat. She was obviously flirting with him. Harm stole a sidelong glance at Gibbs. He was attractive, sort of, thought Harm.
They continued to discuss the case over dinner bantering theories back and forth.
