PART III
(Harm dressed simply in a T-shirt and jeans after his shower. He felt slightly better than he had 14 hours ago, but the pain and reality were just starting to settle in. He heard Mattie's voice talking to Mac and knew he had arrangements to make and a talk to have with her. He picked up the phone to dial JAG headquarters.)
(Ring Ring...)
"JAG OP's Petty Officer Coates speaking"
"Jennifer its Harm"
"Sir...I heard about what I happened I 'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you. Listen I'm flying out the California on the next available ride I can find. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I need you to look after Mattie while I'm out of town."
"Not a problem sir."
"I'll give Mattie my credit card and just use it to ah, get whatever she needs."
"Commander...are you sure you don't want to take Mattie with you?"
"Jennifer, my parents didn't just die, they were killed by the intruder...murdered." (Harm feeling nocuous as he said the words) "This is not some random robbery. It's personal and may have to do with Franks business ventures like the police think. I don't know where this is going to take me and I don't know what's danger is still lurking out there. I don't want anyone I love near this."
"Understood sir. Please make sure you tell her that though. I have a feeling she wants to be there for you."
"I will"
"I take it Colonel Mackenzie won't be going with you then?"
"No she will not" (Harm stated flatly not catching the insinuated question from Coates))
"Good luck Commander"
"Thank you, and Jennifer."
"Yes sir"
(With hesitance he spoke with the fearful emotions lurking inside him) "Be careful"
"I...we will sir"
(Harm hangs up the phone and walks out to the living room to find Mattie and Mac in conversation.)
"Good morning" (Harm stated with hesitance knowing what he would have to tell Mattie)
"Morning Harm" (Both women stated simultaneously with care)
"Mac, would you mind giving Mattie and me a minute."
"Sure, I'll be in the shower" (Mac turns and leaves Harm and Mattie in the living room)
"Mattie I need to apologize for last night..." (Harm said as he led Mattie to the sofa sitting down with her)
"No you don't Harm, believe me I understand. I was just worried, that's why I called Mac."
"I...I'm glad you did. As much as I hate to say it, it did help to have her hear."
"She means a lot to you, doesn't she?"
"Yes" (He stated matter of factly) "Mattie, I'm leaving for California later today and I'm not sure how long I'll be gone."
"Let me come with you!" (She asks immediately)
"I can't allow that honey." (He said as he put his hand up cutting her off)
"Harm I can get my work to go from school. You shouldn't be alone in this"
"Mattie, my parents were not killed in some accident. They were murdered." (He stopped and let that sink in) "That psycho is still out there and I will not put you in danger by being around me."
"I just want to help you" (she pleaded, on the verge of tears)
"Honey, you already have" (He says smiling pulling her into a large hug) "If I haven't told you yet, I love you sweetheart and I can't let anything happen to you"
(Mattie shocked at his declaration let the tears she had been keeping at bay release from her eyes) "I...love you too Harm. Promise me your coming back!"
"I promise" (He said as he gently wiped the strands of tears away from her cheeks)
"Good" (She pulls away)
"Mattie, I talked with Jennifer, she said she'd look out for you while I'm away"
"Ok..."
"But I would love it if you called me every once in a while. It would be nice to hear your voice."
"I will." (She hugs him again)
"You take car of yourself ok?"
"Ok" (Mattie gets up and leaves)
(Unknown to the two of them, Mac having taken a Marine issued two minute shower, witnessed their talk and declaration. Smiling she was touched with Harm. Amidst all this death, confusion and tragedy, he was able to care and to show it. My what a difference a child makes. Dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt she walked back in to the kitchen to find Harm) "I got us a flight leaving at 1700 this evening. There wasn't anything sooner sorry." (She said casually knowing the forthcoming reluctance she would face from him)
"Thanks...wait, what do you mean us?" (He said as he rebounded from her entire statement)
"You think I'm letting you at this alone flyboy?"
"Yes I do!" (He stated flatly)
"Well then you're wrong! First off, I told you you're not alone in this, second I want to be there for you, to help you, and thirdly, Admiral's orders so if you don't like it you can fight about it with him. By the way he said he'd be by later today before we left." (She stood her ground with him not giving an inch)
(Harm let her statement sink in. Rationally he knew he should be grateful for her help, but overprotective as he was, there was still a safety concern. Who was he kidding, she could kick his ass if she wanted too. Slowly he gave in)
"Mac I appreciate your help, believe me, but you don't have to come with me to California. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone and not sure what I'm going to find."
"All the reason more you need me. And face it Harm, you want me their too."
"You know me too well" (She was right and he knew it. He said smiling)
"Then get packing flyboy, we've got a plane to catch"
(Mac left his loft twenty minutes later for her place to pack her things. They agreed to meet back at Harm's two hours before their flight leave together from there for the airport)
Same Time Unknown Location
(Two men with muscular builds dressed in tactical gear approached another man standing still holding a lit cigar in one hand and 9mm Beretta pistol in a holster with the other near. His face hidden in shadows, he faced an open window looking onward. One of the pair of men spoke.)
"Sir, the status report you requested"
"I'm listening Holmes" (The hidden man said)
"The compound is secure with agents covering all possible penetration points."
"What about patrols?"
"As requested two teams of two are circling the compound consistently looking for insertion attempts."
"Has Rabb made it to California yet?"
"No sir, flight listings show him and Colonel Mackenzie leaving at 1700 tonight on a direct flight."
"I figured she'd be joined at his hip. Have the contacted Webb yet?"
"Surveillance shows no contact made since Agent Webb left Colonel Mackenzie's apartment last night."
"Are we up and running in full?"
"All security systems are 100%, the generators are in full swing and the building is wired as requested."
"Good..."
"When is the first contact with Rabb to be made?"
"Soon...very soon."
1430 ZULU Harm's apartment
(A knock sounded at the door)
"Mac just let yourself in its open"
(The door opens and a man enters into the living room)
"I'll be right out Mac"
(A voice sounded startling Harm)
"Mac's not here Harm...I am..."
TO BE CONTINUED...
(Harm dressed simply in a T-shirt and jeans after his shower. He felt slightly better than he had 14 hours ago, but the pain and reality were just starting to settle in. He heard Mattie's voice talking to Mac and knew he had arrangements to make and a talk to have with her. He picked up the phone to dial JAG headquarters.)
(Ring Ring...)
"JAG OP's Petty Officer Coates speaking"
"Jennifer its Harm"
"Sir...I heard about what I happened I 'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you. Listen I'm flying out the California on the next available ride I can find. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I need you to look after Mattie while I'm out of town."
"Not a problem sir."
"I'll give Mattie my credit card and just use it to ah, get whatever she needs."
"Commander...are you sure you don't want to take Mattie with you?"
"Jennifer, my parents didn't just die, they were killed by the intruder...murdered." (Harm feeling nocuous as he said the words) "This is not some random robbery. It's personal and may have to do with Franks business ventures like the police think. I don't know where this is going to take me and I don't know what's danger is still lurking out there. I don't want anyone I love near this."
"Understood sir. Please make sure you tell her that though. I have a feeling she wants to be there for you."
"I will"
"I take it Colonel Mackenzie won't be going with you then?"
"No she will not" (Harm stated flatly not catching the insinuated question from Coates))
"Good luck Commander"
"Thank you, and Jennifer."
"Yes sir"
(With hesitance he spoke with the fearful emotions lurking inside him) "Be careful"
"I...we will sir"
(Harm hangs up the phone and walks out to the living room to find Mattie and Mac in conversation.)
"Good morning" (Harm stated with hesitance knowing what he would have to tell Mattie)
"Morning Harm" (Both women stated simultaneously with care)
"Mac, would you mind giving Mattie and me a minute."
"Sure, I'll be in the shower" (Mac turns and leaves Harm and Mattie in the living room)
"Mattie I need to apologize for last night..." (Harm said as he led Mattie to the sofa sitting down with her)
"No you don't Harm, believe me I understand. I was just worried, that's why I called Mac."
"I...I'm glad you did. As much as I hate to say it, it did help to have her hear."
"She means a lot to you, doesn't she?"
"Yes" (He stated matter of factly) "Mattie, I'm leaving for California later today and I'm not sure how long I'll be gone."
"Let me come with you!" (She asks immediately)
"I can't allow that honey." (He said as he put his hand up cutting her off)
"Harm I can get my work to go from school. You shouldn't be alone in this"
"Mattie, my parents were not killed in some accident. They were murdered." (He stopped and let that sink in) "That psycho is still out there and I will not put you in danger by being around me."
"I just want to help you" (she pleaded, on the verge of tears)
"Honey, you already have" (He says smiling pulling her into a large hug) "If I haven't told you yet, I love you sweetheart and I can't let anything happen to you"
(Mattie shocked at his declaration let the tears she had been keeping at bay release from her eyes) "I...love you too Harm. Promise me your coming back!"
"I promise" (He said as he gently wiped the strands of tears away from her cheeks)
"Good" (She pulls away)
"Mattie, I talked with Jennifer, she said she'd look out for you while I'm away"
"Ok..."
"But I would love it if you called me every once in a while. It would be nice to hear your voice."
"I will." (She hugs him again)
"You take car of yourself ok?"
"Ok" (Mattie gets up and leaves)
(Unknown to the two of them, Mac having taken a Marine issued two minute shower, witnessed their talk and declaration. Smiling she was touched with Harm. Amidst all this death, confusion and tragedy, he was able to care and to show it. My what a difference a child makes. Dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt she walked back in to the kitchen to find Harm) "I got us a flight leaving at 1700 this evening. There wasn't anything sooner sorry." (She said casually knowing the forthcoming reluctance she would face from him)
"Thanks...wait, what do you mean us?" (He said as he rebounded from her entire statement)
"You think I'm letting you at this alone flyboy?"
"Yes I do!" (He stated flatly)
"Well then you're wrong! First off, I told you you're not alone in this, second I want to be there for you, to help you, and thirdly, Admiral's orders so if you don't like it you can fight about it with him. By the way he said he'd be by later today before we left." (She stood her ground with him not giving an inch)
(Harm let her statement sink in. Rationally he knew he should be grateful for her help, but overprotective as he was, there was still a safety concern. Who was he kidding, she could kick his ass if she wanted too. Slowly he gave in)
"Mac I appreciate your help, believe me, but you don't have to come with me to California. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone and not sure what I'm going to find."
"All the reason more you need me. And face it Harm, you want me their too."
"You know me too well" (She was right and he knew it. He said smiling)
"Then get packing flyboy, we've got a plane to catch"
(Mac left his loft twenty minutes later for her place to pack her things. They agreed to meet back at Harm's two hours before their flight leave together from there for the airport)
Same Time Unknown Location
(Two men with muscular builds dressed in tactical gear approached another man standing still holding a lit cigar in one hand and 9mm Beretta pistol in a holster with the other near. His face hidden in shadows, he faced an open window looking onward. One of the pair of men spoke.)
"Sir, the status report you requested"
"I'm listening Holmes" (The hidden man said)
"The compound is secure with agents covering all possible penetration points."
"What about patrols?"
"As requested two teams of two are circling the compound consistently looking for insertion attempts."
"Has Rabb made it to California yet?"
"No sir, flight listings show him and Colonel Mackenzie leaving at 1700 tonight on a direct flight."
"I figured she'd be joined at his hip. Have the contacted Webb yet?"
"Surveillance shows no contact made since Agent Webb left Colonel Mackenzie's apartment last night."
"Are we up and running in full?"
"All security systems are 100%, the generators are in full swing and the building is wired as requested."
"Good..."
"When is the first contact with Rabb to be made?"
"Soon...very soon."
1430 ZULU Harm's apartment
(A knock sounded at the door)
"Mac just let yourself in its open"
(The door opens and a man enters into the living room)
"I'll be right out Mac"
(A voice sounded startling Harm)
"Mac's not here Harm...I am..."
TO BE CONTINUED...