Chapter Four
Harm and Mac's House Outside Pensacola, FL 1900 ZULU that night...
"I wonder why we had to wait until now for Webb to pop out with the whole story?" Mac wondered aloud as she prepared herself for another night of working at the bar. "It's stuff like this that makes me want to rearrange his face. I can't believe he held out on us."
"Just keep an eye out tonight when you're walking around. You're bound to notice something. We have a name now, too, so that should make it all the more easy.." Harm assured her.
"For once, I agree with you." Mac nodded. "Come on, or I could be late.."
"You really do have to tell me how you do that." he commented under his breath.
"Do what?" she asked, poking her head back into the room.
"Always know what time it is..it's unnatural, I tell you. It's just not right!" he complained.
"Oh, come on!" she whined, and raced towards the car.
Sporty's Bar Just outside Pensacola, FL 1730 ZULU
"Break time, Sarah!" hollered the bartender.
Michelle, the other waitress working at Sporty's, beckoned Mac over to the counter. "Take a load off." She whispered. "You see that hottie over there...go talk to him. He's been glaring at you all night."
Mac nearly burst into a giggle fit when Michelle pointed to Harm. "Okay." She nodded.
Michelle handed her a glass of water. "Go on." She grinned.
"Hey." Mac said to Harm, taking a seat at the table. "My coworker thinks you're a 'hottie'" she quoted.
"Nice complement, but not interested." He waved.
"Oh, come off it Harm. What does interest you? You can't marry your jet.you know that, right? Surely you want to settle down eventually?" she sounded annoyed at him.
"Yeah, eventually." He nodded. "And I've got someone in mind. I just.don't know how she'd react." he admitted.
"Who? I want to know!" Mac pleaded as if she were back in high school. "I can put in a good word for you.unless it's Singer. Then I'd have to pay for your CAT scan." she decided.
"It's not, Mac..don't worry." He shrugged. "You couldn't put in a good word for this person anyway. I've been trying to put in a good word for six years now."
"Good lord, Harm!" yelped Mac. "Who could possibly..?"
"You." It just popped out of his mouth like any other normal thing he would say.
Color drained from Mac's face. She took a large gulp of water, set her glass on the table, and was silent.
"I didn't mean for it to pop out like that." Harm said to himself. "Stupid, stupid, stupid.."
"Harm, turn around!" Mac squealed. "Look who just came in the door! You see the name tag?" she pointed to the doorway.
"Huh?" Harm looked in that direction. "Lastring!?" he whispered, realizing what Mac was talking about. "Mac, that's him!"
"I know it is!" she smirked. "Pay attention! It looks like he's here visiting someone. Let's see who it is.."
They watched the man for several minutes before he headed for the bar. He didn't order any drinks, though. He was deep in conversation with Michelle, the other waitress.
Mac downed the rest of her water. "Well, I'll be damned." she whispered.
"You think she's the other suspect?" asked Harm.
"Well, flyboy, the man is over 40. It's not like it could logically be his mother, could it?" she retorted.
The two of them continued to talk. Mac yawned. "I'm going to go to the little girl's room." She whispered. "Be right back, okay?"
Harm nodded, keeping his eye on the two people talking at the front of the bar. After several minutes passed, the two of them stopped talking, and Michelle headed toward the restrooms. Lastring stayed where he was at the bar.
Several more minutes passed, and Harm became worried. He dashed toward the bathrooms, and straight into the women's room. Mac wasn't there. He ran out of the room, back to the main bar, and flagged down the bartender. Lastring was gone.
"Call the police, and call this man. His name is Admiral AJ Chegwidden. Tell him that we've run into some problems, that the Colonel is missing, and to get his six down here as quickly as possible!" Harm panted, and ran out the bar's back door.
"A Colonel?!" the old man gasped. He picked up the phone, first dialing the police, and then quickly dialing the Admiral's number.
After only one ring, the Admiral picked up the phone. "Chegwidden." He said softly.
"Uh, sir. this is Rick Barnes, I'm the bartender down at Sporty's." he began.
The Admiral cut him off. "What wrong? What has happened?" he demanded of the old man.
"I believe that gentleman that came down here with that woman has found the suspects in the murders here. He told me to tell you that the Colonel has gone missing, and to get on down here as quickly as you can." The man relayed.
"What do you mean the Colonel is missing?!" he yelped. "How did that happen?!"
"She went to the bathroom from what I saw, sir, and when that gentleman went to get her, she wasn't there. He bolted out the back door a few seconds ago, actually..." the man rambled.
"I'll be on the next plane. Meet me at the airport!" he commanded, and hung up the phone.
Not seconds later, Harm rushed back into the bar carrying Mac in his arms. "Where the hell are the cops? Where is the ambulance at?" he screamed.
"What about the." began the old man, but Harm cut in.
"They're out back, and unconscious, and I don't really care. If that ambulance isn't here within two seconds heads will roll.." He added under his breath.
Mac made a small gasping noise. "Mac..Sarah?!" he yelped. He carefully set her down, and bent over her. The whole bar had hushed upon his entrance, but now, things seemed even quieter than before. "Oh, god." Harm realized. "Breathe Sarah!!" he yelled. "Breathe!"
Paramedics rushed in, rolling Mac out. Harm followed them, insisting that he go with her. All the way to the emergency room, Harm whispered words of encouragement to her. Paramedics had been able to restore her breathing, but she was hooked up to so many machines that it was impossible for Harm to tell just how 'alright' she was.
Mac went directly into surgery upon arrival. The Admiral arrived with Webb an hour after surgeons had taken Mac to the operating room. Harm hugged the Admiral, and explained, in detail, just how he had found Mac. When he turned to Webb, rather than talk, he swung. Webb reeled backwards into the wall, and fell into a chair.
"I warned you, you stupid son-of-a.." Harm began, but gave up and plopped down into a nearby chair. "She better be okay." He whispered instead.
Two hours passed, and finally, some signs of life behind the O.R. doors made everyone jump anxiously to their feet.
"You're all in Ms. Mackenzie's party?" asked the surgeon.
Everyone nodded. Harm stepped forward. "Is she okay?" he asked.
"She will be eventually, once she has had time to recover. We found when we got her in there that she didn't have very many external injuries." the man paused. "Upon further examination, we realized that most of her more threatening injuries were internal.probably caused by some sort of poison. We pumped her stomach of what we hope to be all harmful fluids, and we have been able to successfully fix anything else that we found." He reported.
"So she'll be fine." Harm breathed a sigh of relief.
"It could've been a lot worse. We've seen the other victims. She wasn't beat up as bad. She defended herself. Probably the best thing she could've done. It wouldn't have been half as bad if it weren't for the poison. We didn't have that issue with the others, so it was new.."
Again, everyone nodded, and patiently waited for the doctor to continue with his analysis.
"There will be some extensive bruising,, maybe a couple of scars, and there is the possibility that she could feel ill for a while even after recovery, but all that's to be expected after what she's gone through, and all the damage that stuff did to her. We can airlift her to Bethesda in about a week, if you wish..and she should be able to return home as soon as she finishes a week or so of physical therapy.."
"That's.all?" Harm gulped worriedly.
"Rest easy, Commander. That's all. You can visit her in an hour when the anesthesia wears off." He smiled, and walked away.
One Month Later Mac's House Washington, DC
Mac was glad to be home. She wasn't feeling like herself, but the familiar smell of her home made her feel slightly better. She walked through slowly, turning on lights, and opening windows and doors. Her last stop was her bedroom.
She walked in. The stress on the door caused it to squeak slightly as she swung it back. When she flipped on the lights, she gasped, nearly falling over.
She could barely see her own furniture under all the roses. There had to be several dozens laid in various places around her room. On her pillow, a get well card, and a note scribbled in Harm's familiar handwriting. She sat carefully on her bed, set the card on her nightstand, and began to read the letter.
'Dear Sarah, Can't tell you how glad I am that you are finally home safe. I was so worried when you were hurt. I couldn't get you out of my head. Here's a rose for every moment I thought of you. With Love, Harm
Harm and Mac's House Outside Pensacola, FL 1900 ZULU that night...
"I wonder why we had to wait until now for Webb to pop out with the whole story?" Mac wondered aloud as she prepared herself for another night of working at the bar. "It's stuff like this that makes me want to rearrange his face. I can't believe he held out on us."
"Just keep an eye out tonight when you're walking around. You're bound to notice something. We have a name now, too, so that should make it all the more easy.." Harm assured her.
"For once, I agree with you." Mac nodded. "Come on, or I could be late.."
"You really do have to tell me how you do that." he commented under his breath.
"Do what?" she asked, poking her head back into the room.
"Always know what time it is..it's unnatural, I tell you. It's just not right!" he complained.
"Oh, come on!" she whined, and raced towards the car.
Sporty's Bar Just outside Pensacola, FL 1730 ZULU
"Break time, Sarah!" hollered the bartender.
Michelle, the other waitress working at Sporty's, beckoned Mac over to the counter. "Take a load off." She whispered. "You see that hottie over there...go talk to him. He's been glaring at you all night."
Mac nearly burst into a giggle fit when Michelle pointed to Harm. "Okay." She nodded.
Michelle handed her a glass of water. "Go on." She grinned.
"Hey." Mac said to Harm, taking a seat at the table. "My coworker thinks you're a 'hottie'" she quoted.
"Nice complement, but not interested." He waved.
"Oh, come off it Harm. What does interest you? You can't marry your jet.you know that, right? Surely you want to settle down eventually?" she sounded annoyed at him.
"Yeah, eventually." He nodded. "And I've got someone in mind. I just.don't know how she'd react." he admitted.
"Who? I want to know!" Mac pleaded as if she were back in high school. "I can put in a good word for you.unless it's Singer. Then I'd have to pay for your CAT scan." she decided.
"It's not, Mac..don't worry." He shrugged. "You couldn't put in a good word for this person anyway. I've been trying to put in a good word for six years now."
"Good lord, Harm!" yelped Mac. "Who could possibly..?"
"You." It just popped out of his mouth like any other normal thing he would say.
Color drained from Mac's face. She took a large gulp of water, set her glass on the table, and was silent.
"I didn't mean for it to pop out like that." Harm said to himself. "Stupid, stupid, stupid.."
"Harm, turn around!" Mac squealed. "Look who just came in the door! You see the name tag?" she pointed to the doorway.
"Huh?" Harm looked in that direction. "Lastring!?" he whispered, realizing what Mac was talking about. "Mac, that's him!"
"I know it is!" she smirked. "Pay attention! It looks like he's here visiting someone. Let's see who it is.."
They watched the man for several minutes before he headed for the bar. He didn't order any drinks, though. He was deep in conversation with Michelle, the other waitress.
Mac downed the rest of her water. "Well, I'll be damned." she whispered.
"You think she's the other suspect?" asked Harm.
"Well, flyboy, the man is over 40. It's not like it could logically be his mother, could it?" she retorted.
The two of them continued to talk. Mac yawned. "I'm going to go to the little girl's room." She whispered. "Be right back, okay?"
Harm nodded, keeping his eye on the two people talking at the front of the bar. After several minutes passed, the two of them stopped talking, and Michelle headed toward the restrooms. Lastring stayed where he was at the bar.
Several more minutes passed, and Harm became worried. He dashed toward the bathrooms, and straight into the women's room. Mac wasn't there. He ran out of the room, back to the main bar, and flagged down the bartender. Lastring was gone.
"Call the police, and call this man. His name is Admiral AJ Chegwidden. Tell him that we've run into some problems, that the Colonel is missing, and to get his six down here as quickly as possible!" Harm panted, and ran out the bar's back door.
"A Colonel?!" the old man gasped. He picked up the phone, first dialing the police, and then quickly dialing the Admiral's number.
After only one ring, the Admiral picked up the phone. "Chegwidden." He said softly.
"Uh, sir. this is Rick Barnes, I'm the bartender down at Sporty's." he began.
The Admiral cut him off. "What wrong? What has happened?" he demanded of the old man.
"I believe that gentleman that came down here with that woman has found the suspects in the murders here. He told me to tell you that the Colonel has gone missing, and to get on down here as quickly as you can." The man relayed.
"What do you mean the Colonel is missing?!" he yelped. "How did that happen?!"
"She went to the bathroom from what I saw, sir, and when that gentleman went to get her, she wasn't there. He bolted out the back door a few seconds ago, actually..." the man rambled.
"I'll be on the next plane. Meet me at the airport!" he commanded, and hung up the phone.
Not seconds later, Harm rushed back into the bar carrying Mac in his arms. "Where the hell are the cops? Where is the ambulance at?" he screamed.
"What about the." began the old man, but Harm cut in.
"They're out back, and unconscious, and I don't really care. If that ambulance isn't here within two seconds heads will roll.." He added under his breath.
Mac made a small gasping noise. "Mac..Sarah?!" he yelped. He carefully set her down, and bent over her. The whole bar had hushed upon his entrance, but now, things seemed even quieter than before. "Oh, god." Harm realized. "Breathe Sarah!!" he yelled. "Breathe!"
Paramedics rushed in, rolling Mac out. Harm followed them, insisting that he go with her. All the way to the emergency room, Harm whispered words of encouragement to her. Paramedics had been able to restore her breathing, but she was hooked up to so many machines that it was impossible for Harm to tell just how 'alright' she was.
Mac went directly into surgery upon arrival. The Admiral arrived with Webb an hour after surgeons had taken Mac to the operating room. Harm hugged the Admiral, and explained, in detail, just how he had found Mac. When he turned to Webb, rather than talk, he swung. Webb reeled backwards into the wall, and fell into a chair.
"I warned you, you stupid son-of-a.." Harm began, but gave up and plopped down into a nearby chair. "She better be okay." He whispered instead.
Two hours passed, and finally, some signs of life behind the O.R. doors made everyone jump anxiously to their feet.
"You're all in Ms. Mackenzie's party?" asked the surgeon.
Everyone nodded. Harm stepped forward. "Is she okay?" he asked.
"She will be eventually, once she has had time to recover. We found when we got her in there that she didn't have very many external injuries." the man paused. "Upon further examination, we realized that most of her more threatening injuries were internal.probably caused by some sort of poison. We pumped her stomach of what we hope to be all harmful fluids, and we have been able to successfully fix anything else that we found." He reported.
"So she'll be fine." Harm breathed a sigh of relief.
"It could've been a lot worse. We've seen the other victims. She wasn't beat up as bad. She defended herself. Probably the best thing she could've done. It wouldn't have been half as bad if it weren't for the poison. We didn't have that issue with the others, so it was new.."
Again, everyone nodded, and patiently waited for the doctor to continue with his analysis.
"There will be some extensive bruising,, maybe a couple of scars, and there is the possibility that she could feel ill for a while even after recovery, but all that's to be expected after what she's gone through, and all the damage that stuff did to her. We can airlift her to Bethesda in about a week, if you wish..and she should be able to return home as soon as she finishes a week or so of physical therapy.."
"That's.all?" Harm gulped worriedly.
"Rest easy, Commander. That's all. You can visit her in an hour when the anesthesia wears off." He smiled, and walked away.
One Month Later Mac's House Washington, DC
Mac was glad to be home. She wasn't feeling like herself, but the familiar smell of her home made her feel slightly better. She walked through slowly, turning on lights, and opening windows and doors. Her last stop was her bedroom.
She walked in. The stress on the door caused it to squeak slightly as she swung it back. When she flipped on the lights, she gasped, nearly falling over.
She could barely see her own furniture under all the roses. There had to be several dozens laid in various places around her room. On her pillow, a get well card, and a note scribbled in Harm's familiar handwriting. She sat carefully on her bed, set the card on her nightstand, and began to read the letter.
'Dear Sarah, Can't tell you how glad I am that you are finally home safe. I was so worried when you were hurt. I couldn't get you out of my head. Here's a rose for every moment I thought of you. With Love, Harm