Sorry for the delay in posting, I was out of town the last three days at a wedding. Anyway, here's the next part, hope you like it.
Burnett Residence LaJolla, California 1045 Local
"LaJolla, sir, I arrived in San Diego early this morning and my flight out isn't until midnight." Harm hesitated for a moment, he was suddenly having second thoughts about talking to the Admiral. He hadn't been able to reach Mac for the last couple of hours. The last time he'd talked to her was Wednesday evening when he still wasn't sure when he'd be back. She hadn't mentioned any cases that might take her out of town and he'd suddenly gotten a wild hair to go right to the top and question Chegwidden about her whereabouts. Now it didn't seem like such a great idea. The Admiral's only edict towards he and Mac's relationship had been 'keep it out of the office'. Harassing Chegwidden about Mac just because she was out of touch when he felt like talking to her might be construed as breaking that order. Damn, what had he been thinking? ... On the other hand, there was this nagging little worry that wouldn't leave him alone.
"Rabb?" The Admiral's voice jolted him back to the here and now. Harm rubbed at his forehead, the jetlag must be worse than he thought if he was zoning out while talking to a two-star.
"Sorry, sir." Oh hell, just get it out and get it over with, "Sir? I've been trying to reach Mac... Colonel MacKenzie, and I can't seem to find her. Did she have to go out of town on a case this weekend?"
The silence on the other end had Harm kicking himself. What the hell had been going on in his head to think that the Admiral would have nothing better to do on his day off than keep track of his Chief of Staff? Chegwidden must be really ticked if he was taking this long to compose himself. Just as Harm was about to apologize and try to extricate himself, the Admiral came back on the line, "Harm... "
Harm found himself straightening as a prickle of alarm ran down his spine, "Sir?"
"Harm, Mac had to interview a witness up in the Shenandoah Valley on Thursday. It was evening before she started back. I-64/81 was a mess because of construction so we think she tried an alternate route... "
"You think?" Harm interrupted, his voice edging upward in alarm, "Oh God... Sir, you're not telling me that... "
"She's missing, Harm. There was a pretty severe thunderstorm in the mountains that night. There are power and phone outages all over the area. Let me finish," AJ ordered when he heard Harm start to speak again, "There were numerous accidents - none of which involved the Colonel. We just can't find her. It's possible she's merely stranded someplace that hasn't had their phone line repaired yet. The Highway Patrol and Sheriff's Department are looking. We won't stop until we locate her, Harm."
"Yes sir, thank you, sir." Numbly, Harm ended the connection and sat, staring off into space.
Trish Burnett came out on the patio a few minutes later, "Harm, dear, did you get hold of Sarah? Is she going to pick you up at the airport?" Her voice faltered as she took in his still figure, "Harm? What's wrong? Has something happened?"
On the way to New Market Shenandoah Valley Northern Virginia 1355 Local
AJ looked at the phone and then at Meredith, "He hung up."
She raised an eyebrow, "Is that good or bad?"
The Admiral snorted, "With Rabb, you can never tell. He's not due back in DC until tomorrow morning but if he plays true to form, I'll expect him anytime after 1700."
Meredith glanced at her watch and looked at him in surprise, "Is Harm's real name, Clark Kent?"
AJ chuckled, "I've wondered on occasion, but no. What I suspect is that he will try to catch a ride in a F-14. It would be the fastest way here." He sobered suddenly, "Then the real fun will begin. There's no way he can search these mountains on his own, but he's going to want to try. I can't let him do it. I need him at JAG."
"AJ, how much good will he be at the office? Wouldn't it be better to let him search? He'll be worried sick." Meredith could relate to those feelings after AJ's accidental punch-out.
He sighed, "I know that, but he's a senior officer. He has responsibilities and, like it or not, he's going to have to leave the searching to the police. It's not like we're abandoning Mac, after all." He thumped the steering wheel in frustration, "If we could only narrow the search to a reasonable area! There's too many places to look." He continued to scowl as he drove down the road.
She looked at him silently for a few minutes, "What else is wrong?"
Chegwidden gave her a sideways glance, she could be entirely too observant. "Do you remember that anti-government nut who set off a bomb in a federal building and killed a janitor? He hid out in the mountains?"
Meredith frowned thoughtfully, "I believe so, Tobin, wasn't it? Didn't you tell me about that SEAL lieutenant who stumbled across him on a training exercise?"
AJ nodded, "The thing is that entire town was behind Tobin. They think that the government has become their enemy and the military is its willing enforcers." He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, "Dammit, Mac was in uniform. What if she ran into another group like that?"
"What if she didn't?" Meredith countered, "Don't go borrowing trouble, AJ. The only fact we know for sure is that she's missing. I think that's enough to worry about."
"Amen to that," AJ muttered as they lapsed into silence.
Shenandoah Valley Northern Virginia 2215 Local
"Sasha, dear, are you enjoying yourself?" Corinna appeared at Mac's elbow, holding her own cup of punch.
"Very much," Mac smiled at the older woman. If her aviator could have been here, it would have been perfect. She nodded to where Avril and Avis were talking on the far side of the room, "Your son is a wonderful man. You must be very proud."
"Oh, you may be sure of that," Corinna smiled as well. She hesitated for a moment and then said, "I have to admit I had my doubts about this engagement but these past few weeks... well... I'm beginning to think my son is the lucky one."
"They're both lucky to have found each other," Mac said firmly, forcing her thoughts away from pictures of Harm dressed like Rhett Butler. The damn corset was already killing her without putting her body through that reaction.
"Spoken like a woman who has found her own true love," Corinna's grin grew wider as she arched an eyebrow at Mac. "Did you happen to find him here?" Her gaze drifted out to the dance floor where Captain Landers was partnered with yet another young lady.
Mac followed her gaze to the Captain and laughed lightly, "Captain Landers is charming and amusing... "
"But not for you."
"No." Mac's smile faded as she caught a disturbance on the dance floor out of the corner of her eye.
Corinna saw it as well, she frowned, "What in the world? ... Avis? Avril?" She turned towards Mac, only to find her moving away. Then everything went to hell.
As soon as Mac recognized Avis, alarm had the hair on the back of her neck standing up. Turning away from Corinna, she started looking for whatever it was that was scaring the young woman. That Avis was frightened was plain from the look on her face. For one irrational moment, Mac had a sudden fear that Ezra Caine had somehow found her again. That thought was enough of a distraction that she almost ignored the appearance a tall, thin woman approaching from the side. The fact that the woman wasn't dressed for the ball suddenly registered and Mac turned towards her just as the woman launched herself.
There was a flash of steel and Mac threw up an arm instinctively as the woman drove them both backwards. Pain blossomed along her forearm at the same time the woman's hand latched onto her throat. Desperately, Mac tried to keep track of the knife hand while prying the hand loose from her airway. Her legs were useless, trapped inside the wire cage of the hoop skirt. She twisted, trying to throw the woman off-balance, and gritted her teeth against the pain from the corset. The damn thing was like being caught in a vise. Her arm was on fire and the first vestiges of panic were beginning to seep in. How could she defend herself when she could barely move?
Abruptly the woman was yanked away, her fingers leaving scratches on Mac's neck as Avril and Landers picked her up and heaved. As soon as she lost contact with Mac, she began screaming. Much of it was obscenities but the gist of her ranting was that Mac was a miserable Yankee, Yankees had killed her babies, all Yankees needed to die.
Mac stood swaying, staring at the woman who had to be Mary Patrick, and trying hard not to cough. Once had been enough to convince her it was another bad thing to do in a corset. Avril had an iron grip on Mary Patrick's right wrist. She was still clinging to a pair of bloody scissors. Mac kept her left arm cradled with her right, she hadn't looked at it yet. She was almost afraid to, knowing it was going to need some sort of medical attention. Gradually, she became aware that Avis and Corinna had flanked her. All around her, the noise level grew as people who'd been shocked into silence, regained their voices.
Carefully, Mac turned her head towards Avis, "Get me out of here." Her voice was barely above a whisper. The next half hour was just a blur of images: Axel McNair appearing and hauling a still screaming Mary Patrick away; Avril replacing Corinna at her side; Matt Landers angrily clearing a path; the cool freshness of the night air; the painful jouncing of the carriage. By the time they reached Corinna's house, she was fading fast.
Avril looked over at Avis as William pulled the horses down to a halt in front of the Simpson home. Matt and Corinna were waiting for the carriage to come back and get them. He nodded to Mac and said quietly, "Mother said you'll both spend the night here, it's too far to your place. I'll ride to Deacon's farm tonight and ask him if he can have one of his sons take care of your stock in the morning."
"Thank you." Avis smile softly at him before giving Sarah a worried look, she could feel the woman's focus shifting inward. Matt had snagged several linen napkins and he and Avril had done their best to field-dress Sarah's arm. Ironically, they were the most experienced people there at tending wounded. At the moment, the bloody stain didn't seem to be spreading as quickly.
William appeared at the carriage door, Avril gestured to Avis, "You first and then William and I will get Miss Sasha out."
Avis nodded as she stood, "I'll get Effie to prepare a room." She frowned, "There's a doctor at Port Republic, should we send for him?"
Avril shook his head as he handed her down to William, "She needs stitches but Micah Apperton can probably do it. He did a good job on that chestnut mare of mine. We'll get her settled and then send for Micah."
Forty-five minutes later, Micah looked up after snipping the last thread, "All done. Nice and neat, if I do say so myself." This wasn't the first time he'd stitched up a human although it was the first time he'd worked on a woman. He had tried to keep the stitches small. Idly, he wondered if it was Russians in general or just Russian women that were odd. Without any laudanum to deaden the pain, he'd offered her whiskey and she'd told him to pour it on her arm instead. He'd done as she asked even though it was a waste of good liquor and she had promptly fainted. He shrugged inwardly, drunk or passed out, it still made his job easier. He put his kit back together again and got up, moving to the wash basin to rinse the blood off his hands. Corinna settled into the chair he had just vacated. She'd changed out of her ball gown as soon as she had arrived at the house. Moments earlier, she'd sent Avis out to do the same.
Avril shook Apperton's hand, "Thank you, Micah. It was good of you to come."
"My pleasure, Avril, I'm sorry you needed me." He glanced at the woman in the bed, "Mary Patrick did that?" He shook his head when Avril nodded, "I thought Axel kept her locked in her room."
Corinna spoke up from the side of the bed, "He does." She looked at Avril and Matt Landers, who'd been standing quietly in the corner, "We need to talk to him to find out how she managed to get out." Glancing back at Mac, she sighed, "I don't suppose we'll ever figure out why she focused on Sasha."
Apperton shrugged, "She's crazy. Well, I'd best be on my way." He headed for the door, his peg leg giving his stride an odd rhythm. He'd left his leg just below the knee on Malvern Hill, courtesy of a nearly spent cannon ball rolling along the ground. He'd survived and returned home to continue his trade as a blacksmith and part-time horse doctor. Nowadays, he just laughed about it, claiming that it was an advantage. The horses had one less foot to step on.
"I'll walk you out," Avril offered and the two men departed.
After they left, Matt moved up beside Corinna and stood looking down at Mac.
Corinna looked up at him, "It's in God's hands."
Matt nodded solemnly, he'd seen enough men sicken and die from minor wounds to realize that Sasha's recovery wasn't assured.
Burnett Residence LaJolla, California 1105 Local
Frank Burnett hung up the phone and looked over to where Harm was standing. He felt Trish's hand rest on his shoulder and reached up to cover it with his own. They'd been shocked when Harm told them of Sarah's disappearance. He cleared his throat to get his stepson's attention, "I've arranged for the company jet. You can be on your way in less than two hours."
Harm turned his head slightly. "Thank you, Frank," he said quietly before returning his gaze to the ocean.
The Burnetts exchanged worried glances and then Trish squeezed Frank's shoulder, "I'll take this one, dear." They were both aware of Harm's ability to feel responsible for things beyond his control. Trish frowned a little as she made her way over to her son. There was absolutely no reason for Harm to feel guilty about Sarah's disappearance. Worry, anxiety and fear, perhaps, but not guilt. Unless...
Trish leaned on the railing next to Harm and stared out at the ocean, "Do you want to talk about it?"
When he remained silent, she glanced up at him, "Were you and Sarah having... problems?"
"No! Well ... a few, but that was weeks ago. It's better now," Harm looked down at his mother.
Trish eyed him appraisingly, "So this silent contemplation of the ocean is worry and not guilt?"
Harm sighed, "A little of both." He turned and looked down at his mother, "We hit some rough spots and I can't say I'm proud of some of the things I said to her. I'm pretty sure we've managed to get past it though."
"Pretty sure?" Trish interrupted, "You don't know?" She resisted the urge to clench her fists. Men! If you weren't openly fighting with them, they thought everything was okay.
He rubbed at the back of his neck and scowled, "The last month or so has been crazy, we've barely managed to see each other. Mac's not exactly an open book, anyway, not even on her good days."
Trish turned around so she could lean against the railing and folded her arms, "None of this explains why you should feel guilty. Did you wave a magic wand and make her disappear?"
He stared at his hands, "Maybe... " At his mother's shocked expression, he closed his eyes, "Mac is one of the most strong-willed women I know, and one of the most insecure. There's a situation I can't really discuss with her and I've taken advantage of the workload to avoid getting into it." He opened his eyes and looked at his mother, "Mac's knee-jerk reaction for protecting herself is to run. What if this disappearance isn't accidental? What if I've driven her away?"
Trish stared at him for a long moment and then punched his arm hard enough to make him wince, "Mom!"
She glared at him, "Don't 'Mom' me! That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard you say! That woman's a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps and happens to be in love with you. She's followed you into war zones!" She folded her arms again, "Do you love her?"
"Yes! Of course, I do. It's just that... " He stopped and his voice fell to a whisper, "Mom? What if she's gone?"
There was a wealth of pain and fear in that soft question and it tore at her heart. She gathered him into her embrace, "Sarah's not gone, Harm. I can feel it. She just needs you to find her."
He pulled back, wiping at his eyes and giving her a crooked, little smile, "Did you borrow some of her psychic ability while she was here?"
Trish grinned up at him, "Nah, call it future mother-in-law's intuition." She pulled him upright and pushed him towards the house, "Get your things together. You have my daughter-in-law-to-be to find. We'll take you to the airport."
Burnett Residence LaJolla, California 1045 Local
"LaJolla, sir, I arrived in San Diego early this morning and my flight out isn't until midnight." Harm hesitated for a moment, he was suddenly having second thoughts about talking to the Admiral. He hadn't been able to reach Mac for the last couple of hours. The last time he'd talked to her was Wednesday evening when he still wasn't sure when he'd be back. She hadn't mentioned any cases that might take her out of town and he'd suddenly gotten a wild hair to go right to the top and question Chegwidden about her whereabouts. Now it didn't seem like such a great idea. The Admiral's only edict towards he and Mac's relationship had been 'keep it out of the office'. Harassing Chegwidden about Mac just because she was out of touch when he felt like talking to her might be construed as breaking that order. Damn, what had he been thinking? ... On the other hand, there was this nagging little worry that wouldn't leave him alone.
"Rabb?" The Admiral's voice jolted him back to the here and now. Harm rubbed at his forehead, the jetlag must be worse than he thought if he was zoning out while talking to a two-star.
"Sorry, sir." Oh hell, just get it out and get it over with, "Sir? I've been trying to reach Mac... Colonel MacKenzie, and I can't seem to find her. Did she have to go out of town on a case this weekend?"
The silence on the other end had Harm kicking himself. What the hell had been going on in his head to think that the Admiral would have nothing better to do on his day off than keep track of his Chief of Staff? Chegwidden must be really ticked if he was taking this long to compose himself. Just as Harm was about to apologize and try to extricate himself, the Admiral came back on the line, "Harm... "
Harm found himself straightening as a prickle of alarm ran down his spine, "Sir?"
"Harm, Mac had to interview a witness up in the Shenandoah Valley on Thursday. It was evening before she started back. I-64/81 was a mess because of construction so we think she tried an alternate route... "
"You think?" Harm interrupted, his voice edging upward in alarm, "Oh God... Sir, you're not telling me that... "
"She's missing, Harm. There was a pretty severe thunderstorm in the mountains that night. There are power and phone outages all over the area. Let me finish," AJ ordered when he heard Harm start to speak again, "There were numerous accidents - none of which involved the Colonel. We just can't find her. It's possible she's merely stranded someplace that hasn't had their phone line repaired yet. The Highway Patrol and Sheriff's Department are looking. We won't stop until we locate her, Harm."
"Yes sir, thank you, sir." Numbly, Harm ended the connection and sat, staring off into space.
Trish Burnett came out on the patio a few minutes later, "Harm, dear, did you get hold of Sarah? Is she going to pick you up at the airport?" Her voice faltered as she took in his still figure, "Harm? What's wrong? Has something happened?"
On the way to New Market Shenandoah Valley Northern Virginia 1355 Local
AJ looked at the phone and then at Meredith, "He hung up."
She raised an eyebrow, "Is that good or bad?"
The Admiral snorted, "With Rabb, you can never tell. He's not due back in DC until tomorrow morning but if he plays true to form, I'll expect him anytime after 1700."
Meredith glanced at her watch and looked at him in surprise, "Is Harm's real name, Clark Kent?"
AJ chuckled, "I've wondered on occasion, but no. What I suspect is that he will try to catch a ride in a F-14. It would be the fastest way here." He sobered suddenly, "Then the real fun will begin. There's no way he can search these mountains on his own, but he's going to want to try. I can't let him do it. I need him at JAG."
"AJ, how much good will he be at the office? Wouldn't it be better to let him search? He'll be worried sick." Meredith could relate to those feelings after AJ's accidental punch-out.
He sighed, "I know that, but he's a senior officer. He has responsibilities and, like it or not, he's going to have to leave the searching to the police. It's not like we're abandoning Mac, after all." He thumped the steering wheel in frustration, "If we could only narrow the search to a reasonable area! There's too many places to look." He continued to scowl as he drove down the road.
She looked at him silently for a few minutes, "What else is wrong?"
Chegwidden gave her a sideways glance, she could be entirely too observant. "Do you remember that anti-government nut who set off a bomb in a federal building and killed a janitor? He hid out in the mountains?"
Meredith frowned thoughtfully, "I believe so, Tobin, wasn't it? Didn't you tell me about that SEAL lieutenant who stumbled across him on a training exercise?"
AJ nodded, "The thing is that entire town was behind Tobin. They think that the government has become their enemy and the military is its willing enforcers." He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, "Dammit, Mac was in uniform. What if she ran into another group like that?"
"What if she didn't?" Meredith countered, "Don't go borrowing trouble, AJ. The only fact we know for sure is that she's missing. I think that's enough to worry about."
"Amen to that," AJ muttered as they lapsed into silence.
Shenandoah Valley Northern Virginia 2215 Local
"Sasha, dear, are you enjoying yourself?" Corinna appeared at Mac's elbow, holding her own cup of punch.
"Very much," Mac smiled at the older woman. If her aviator could have been here, it would have been perfect. She nodded to where Avril and Avis were talking on the far side of the room, "Your son is a wonderful man. You must be very proud."
"Oh, you may be sure of that," Corinna smiled as well. She hesitated for a moment and then said, "I have to admit I had my doubts about this engagement but these past few weeks... well... I'm beginning to think my son is the lucky one."
"They're both lucky to have found each other," Mac said firmly, forcing her thoughts away from pictures of Harm dressed like Rhett Butler. The damn corset was already killing her without putting her body through that reaction.
"Spoken like a woman who has found her own true love," Corinna's grin grew wider as she arched an eyebrow at Mac. "Did you happen to find him here?" Her gaze drifted out to the dance floor where Captain Landers was partnered with yet another young lady.
Mac followed her gaze to the Captain and laughed lightly, "Captain Landers is charming and amusing... "
"But not for you."
"No." Mac's smile faded as she caught a disturbance on the dance floor out of the corner of her eye.
Corinna saw it as well, she frowned, "What in the world? ... Avis? Avril?" She turned towards Mac, only to find her moving away. Then everything went to hell.
As soon as Mac recognized Avis, alarm had the hair on the back of her neck standing up. Turning away from Corinna, she started looking for whatever it was that was scaring the young woman. That Avis was frightened was plain from the look on her face. For one irrational moment, Mac had a sudden fear that Ezra Caine had somehow found her again. That thought was enough of a distraction that she almost ignored the appearance a tall, thin woman approaching from the side. The fact that the woman wasn't dressed for the ball suddenly registered and Mac turned towards her just as the woman launched herself.
There was a flash of steel and Mac threw up an arm instinctively as the woman drove them both backwards. Pain blossomed along her forearm at the same time the woman's hand latched onto her throat. Desperately, Mac tried to keep track of the knife hand while prying the hand loose from her airway. Her legs were useless, trapped inside the wire cage of the hoop skirt. She twisted, trying to throw the woman off-balance, and gritted her teeth against the pain from the corset. The damn thing was like being caught in a vise. Her arm was on fire and the first vestiges of panic were beginning to seep in. How could she defend herself when she could barely move?
Abruptly the woman was yanked away, her fingers leaving scratches on Mac's neck as Avril and Landers picked her up and heaved. As soon as she lost contact with Mac, she began screaming. Much of it was obscenities but the gist of her ranting was that Mac was a miserable Yankee, Yankees had killed her babies, all Yankees needed to die.
Mac stood swaying, staring at the woman who had to be Mary Patrick, and trying hard not to cough. Once had been enough to convince her it was another bad thing to do in a corset. Avril had an iron grip on Mary Patrick's right wrist. She was still clinging to a pair of bloody scissors. Mac kept her left arm cradled with her right, she hadn't looked at it yet. She was almost afraid to, knowing it was going to need some sort of medical attention. Gradually, she became aware that Avis and Corinna had flanked her. All around her, the noise level grew as people who'd been shocked into silence, regained their voices.
Carefully, Mac turned her head towards Avis, "Get me out of here." Her voice was barely above a whisper. The next half hour was just a blur of images: Axel McNair appearing and hauling a still screaming Mary Patrick away; Avril replacing Corinna at her side; Matt Landers angrily clearing a path; the cool freshness of the night air; the painful jouncing of the carriage. By the time they reached Corinna's house, she was fading fast.
Avril looked over at Avis as William pulled the horses down to a halt in front of the Simpson home. Matt and Corinna were waiting for the carriage to come back and get them. He nodded to Mac and said quietly, "Mother said you'll both spend the night here, it's too far to your place. I'll ride to Deacon's farm tonight and ask him if he can have one of his sons take care of your stock in the morning."
"Thank you." Avis smile softly at him before giving Sarah a worried look, she could feel the woman's focus shifting inward. Matt had snagged several linen napkins and he and Avril had done their best to field-dress Sarah's arm. Ironically, they were the most experienced people there at tending wounded. At the moment, the bloody stain didn't seem to be spreading as quickly.
William appeared at the carriage door, Avril gestured to Avis, "You first and then William and I will get Miss Sasha out."
Avis nodded as she stood, "I'll get Effie to prepare a room." She frowned, "There's a doctor at Port Republic, should we send for him?"
Avril shook his head as he handed her down to William, "She needs stitches but Micah Apperton can probably do it. He did a good job on that chestnut mare of mine. We'll get her settled and then send for Micah."
Forty-five minutes later, Micah looked up after snipping the last thread, "All done. Nice and neat, if I do say so myself." This wasn't the first time he'd stitched up a human although it was the first time he'd worked on a woman. He had tried to keep the stitches small. Idly, he wondered if it was Russians in general or just Russian women that were odd. Without any laudanum to deaden the pain, he'd offered her whiskey and she'd told him to pour it on her arm instead. He'd done as she asked even though it was a waste of good liquor and she had promptly fainted. He shrugged inwardly, drunk or passed out, it still made his job easier. He put his kit back together again and got up, moving to the wash basin to rinse the blood off his hands. Corinna settled into the chair he had just vacated. She'd changed out of her ball gown as soon as she had arrived at the house. Moments earlier, she'd sent Avis out to do the same.
Avril shook Apperton's hand, "Thank you, Micah. It was good of you to come."
"My pleasure, Avril, I'm sorry you needed me." He glanced at the woman in the bed, "Mary Patrick did that?" He shook his head when Avril nodded, "I thought Axel kept her locked in her room."
Corinna spoke up from the side of the bed, "He does." She looked at Avril and Matt Landers, who'd been standing quietly in the corner, "We need to talk to him to find out how she managed to get out." Glancing back at Mac, she sighed, "I don't suppose we'll ever figure out why she focused on Sasha."
Apperton shrugged, "She's crazy. Well, I'd best be on my way." He headed for the door, his peg leg giving his stride an odd rhythm. He'd left his leg just below the knee on Malvern Hill, courtesy of a nearly spent cannon ball rolling along the ground. He'd survived and returned home to continue his trade as a blacksmith and part-time horse doctor. Nowadays, he just laughed about it, claiming that it was an advantage. The horses had one less foot to step on.
"I'll walk you out," Avril offered and the two men departed.
After they left, Matt moved up beside Corinna and stood looking down at Mac.
Corinna looked up at him, "It's in God's hands."
Matt nodded solemnly, he'd seen enough men sicken and die from minor wounds to realize that Sasha's recovery wasn't assured.
Burnett Residence LaJolla, California 1105 Local
Frank Burnett hung up the phone and looked over to where Harm was standing. He felt Trish's hand rest on his shoulder and reached up to cover it with his own. They'd been shocked when Harm told them of Sarah's disappearance. He cleared his throat to get his stepson's attention, "I've arranged for the company jet. You can be on your way in less than two hours."
Harm turned his head slightly. "Thank you, Frank," he said quietly before returning his gaze to the ocean.
The Burnetts exchanged worried glances and then Trish squeezed Frank's shoulder, "I'll take this one, dear." They were both aware of Harm's ability to feel responsible for things beyond his control. Trish frowned a little as she made her way over to her son. There was absolutely no reason for Harm to feel guilty about Sarah's disappearance. Worry, anxiety and fear, perhaps, but not guilt. Unless...
Trish leaned on the railing next to Harm and stared out at the ocean, "Do you want to talk about it?"
When he remained silent, she glanced up at him, "Were you and Sarah having... problems?"
"No! Well ... a few, but that was weeks ago. It's better now," Harm looked down at his mother.
Trish eyed him appraisingly, "So this silent contemplation of the ocean is worry and not guilt?"
Harm sighed, "A little of both." He turned and looked down at his mother, "We hit some rough spots and I can't say I'm proud of some of the things I said to her. I'm pretty sure we've managed to get past it though."
"Pretty sure?" Trish interrupted, "You don't know?" She resisted the urge to clench her fists. Men! If you weren't openly fighting with them, they thought everything was okay.
He rubbed at the back of his neck and scowled, "The last month or so has been crazy, we've barely managed to see each other. Mac's not exactly an open book, anyway, not even on her good days."
Trish turned around so she could lean against the railing and folded her arms, "None of this explains why you should feel guilty. Did you wave a magic wand and make her disappear?"
He stared at his hands, "Maybe... " At his mother's shocked expression, he closed his eyes, "Mac is one of the most strong-willed women I know, and one of the most insecure. There's a situation I can't really discuss with her and I've taken advantage of the workload to avoid getting into it." He opened his eyes and looked at his mother, "Mac's knee-jerk reaction for protecting herself is to run. What if this disappearance isn't accidental? What if I've driven her away?"
Trish stared at him for a long moment and then punched his arm hard enough to make him wince, "Mom!"
She glared at him, "Don't 'Mom' me! That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard you say! That woman's a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps and happens to be in love with you. She's followed you into war zones!" She folded her arms again, "Do you love her?"
"Yes! Of course, I do. It's just that... " He stopped and his voice fell to a whisper, "Mom? What if she's gone?"
There was a wealth of pain and fear in that soft question and it tore at her heart. She gathered him into her embrace, "Sarah's not gone, Harm. I can feel it. She just needs you to find her."
He pulled back, wiping at his eyes and giving her a crooked, little smile, "Did you borrow some of her psychic ability while she was here?"
Trish grinned up at him, "Nah, call it future mother-in-law's intuition." She pulled him upright and pushed him towards the house, "Get your things together. You have my daughter-in-law-to-be to find. We'll take you to the airport."