Colonel Ryan Samuels has been in the Marines four almost thirty years. Now as he sits at his desk, he knows that he is waiting for the inevitable. Two JAG lawyers were suppose to have reported to the base almost six hours ago, and they haven't shown.
He knows that rivaling tribes in the area have been causing some trouble for his men, so all he can do is fear the worst. Now as he waits for a report on the search for the missing officers, he could only hope that his men find them alive. He did not know the two officers personally, but he knew enough about them to make this search a top priority. And besides, as soon as he made that call to Washington, he was going to have one angry Admiral breathing down his neck.
He was about to make the call, when there was a knock on the door. He could only pray that it would be good news.
"Enter," he said.
"Sir," Staff Sergeant Landers said, sticking his head in the door before coming in.
"Tell me you have good news Sergeant," Colonel Samuels said holding his breath.
"I wish I did sir, but I don't. We found the Colonel and the Commander's jeep eleven miles from camp sir, in the possession of the Grebo tribe." (A/N: This is an actual tribe, and I mean no disrespect to them by making them out to be the bad guys, this is fic is purely for fun.)
"When they saw us coming they ran, and we weren't able to catch them, but we did manage to retrieve the jeep."
"Damn it. Alright, start a sweep from the area, starting from the base in Monrovia, to here. Send up air recon to cover the forest areas. If they're not hurt and on foot, they should be headed towards us."
"Yes sir," the Sergeant said snapping to attention. As soon as he left, Ryan picked up the phone, knowing he was just about to make one of the difficult phone calls that he ever had to make.
SAME TIME, JAG HEADQUARTERS:
Admiral AJ Chegwidden was pacing his office waiting for his phone to ring. Rabb and Mackenzie were over due for their check in time, and he was getting more then inpatient.
When Tiner buzzed that Colonel Samuels was on the phone, AJ gave a sigh of relief. Finally, he thought as he picked up the phone.
"This is Admiral Chegwidden colonel, I assume my people made it there in one piece?"
When he didn't get an answer right away, he knew that something was wrong.
"Admiral they never made it to the base. When I sent a search party out, my people found there jeep eleven miles from the camp, in the hands of some locals. They ran before we got a chance to apprehend them. The Colonel and the Commander where no where to be found. We have sent out search parties and are retacing their every step."
"What are the chance of finding them?"
"It depends how far they went in to the forest. That would make the search a little more difficult, but Admiral, finding them is top priority. We will do our best."
Not being able to find the words AJ could only sigh. "Alright Colonel keep me apprised," he said and gently laid the phone back into the cradle.
"Damn it," he swore, and hit his fist on the desk. His mind was still reeling when Tiner stuck his head in the door.
"Everything okay sir?" he asked.
"Tiner get the staff together, I have an announcement to make."
"Is everything okay?"
"No Tiner now call the damn meeting," he said a little louder then intended to.
"Yes sir!" he said making a hasty retreat.
The Admiral sat down on the edge of his desk, and tried to collect himself. Missing didn't mean dead, he reminded himself. Harm and mac are tough, and they will get out of this.
As soon as the staff was gathered, he looked into the faces of his very worried staff.
"I received a call today for Colonel Samuels at the Harrisburg base in Greenville. It seems that the Colonel and the Commander are overdue."
"By how long sir," Harriet asked placing her hands on her very round stomach.
"Almost seven hours now. A search party found there jeep in the hands of local tribes men, but the Colonel and Commander were no where to be found. The base is conducting a wider search, and I will keep you apprised of any new developments."
The reaction of the staff was about the same. Worry confusion, and shock. Harriet took her husbands hand, and tried to fight back tears. When the admiral looked at Sturgis, he knew the question in his eyes. What would he tell the kids?
"Commander, my office," he said, dismissing his staff.
When the two were in his office, Sturgis couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Sir what should I tell the kids? Harm and Mac told them that they would call as soon as they got to the base. I don't want to lie to them sir, wheat should I tell them?"
"Commander I don't know what you should tell them. Those marines could find them within the next few hours, or the next few days, for now I would just play it by ear."
"Yes sir. But what if-what if something happens to them?"
The Colonel-Harm and Mac left me an updated copy of their will, just in case. They'll be okay Sturgis. They've gotten out of tough spots before. This is nothing new for them."
"Yes sir."
After Sturgis left, AJ had to admit to himself that he did a pretty good job of convincing Sturgis that Harm and Mac would be okay. Now if he could only convince himself of that. He knew he was right when he said that Harm and Mac had gotten out of tough spots before, but something about this one just felt diffrent.
MEANWHILE IN THE FOREST OF LIBERIA....
Harm woke up groggy and wet. Before he opened his eyes he reached for Mac only to find that she wasn't there.
He opened his eyes in terror, but she was nowhere to be seen.
"Mac!" he yelled as loudly and yet as quietly as he could.
"Mac!" But she didn't answer. Harm jumped to his feet, and looked for some trace of her but he couldn't it started raining harder making it harder to see anything.
"Mac!" But she just wasn't there.
TBC...
(Okay come on guys! Two review for my last chap! That's not cool! Please go back and review for chapter three. PLEASE! And don't forget to review for this one! I'm trying to make the chaps longer, and I'm gonna hopefully going to update again soon.)