Chapter 4
"Admiral!" (Harm said as he spun around at the unexpected voice) "You startled me. I forgot Mac said you would be coming by."
"I came as soon as could leave the office. There is no way I can tell you how sorry I am for your loss son."
"I...I appreciate that sir"
"I think with what's just happened Harm, you'd better go ahead and call me AJ"
"I would if I could deal with anything else out of the ordinary right now."
"Understood son." (He pauses for a moment before speaking) "Ah pardon my insensitivity, but with all that's happened I would have thought you'd keep your door locked."
"Normally I would, but Mattie called me on her way home from school and wanted to say goodbye. Of course she forgot her key again" (Harm said with a little father-like pride)
"How are you holding up?"
"About as well as I can be considering sir. Truthfully a lot better than last night."
"I take it Mac was able to help a bit?"
"Yes sir, she definitely through out a lifeline when I needed one."
"That's what family is all about son, don't forget it."
"I won't sir. Things are kind of surreal right now. When I get to Lo Jolla, its going to become a reality. I just don't know how I'm going to deal."
"I'll tell you how. You're going to let Mac take care of you. You're going to grieve, you're going to cry and lord knows you're going to feel pain...but you will live and you will see what you have to live for."
"You forgot one thing sir."
"No I didn't Harm, we will find the son of a bitch that did this...I can promise you that!"
"We sir..."
"Like I said son...family."
"Aye sir."
"When do you leave Harm?" (Shifting topics)
"In about an hour sir. Mac is on her way over right now."
(As they conversed Mattie walked in...)
"Hey Harm its me."
"Mattie we're in here."
"High Admiral" (Said Mattie as she walked in the loft further)
"Miss Grace" (AJ nods to her)
"Harm, Jenn's downstairs waiting for me. She's taking me out to dinner right now. I just wanted to stop by and say goodbye before you left."
"I'm heading out too as soon as Mac gets here."
"Ok...call me alright?"
"Promise baby"
(Harm hugs her tightly. Mattie separates herself and turns to leave)
"Harm, let Mac help, even if you don't want too. She's good for you."
(Mattie leaves)
"You sure she's just fifteen Harm" (Said AJ)
"Yes sir why?"
"She's got some damn good advice"
"Don't I know it sir"
(As they spoke Mac let herself in)
"Hey squid you ready...oh sorry Admiral I didn't know you were here?"
"No apologies necessary Mac. I just wanted to stop by and see how you both were. I know you will have a lot to take on Harm, but like I said before, you'll make it. Both of you though, watch yourselves out there. Aside from the tragedy of the situation, I think we can all agree that this doesn't smell right. That being said this is not a JAG investigation. You are both on someone else's turf."
"But sir you can't expect us not to find out who did this!" (Exclaimed Mac)
"I don't Mac. I'm giving you a real world perspective. It's not Navy business. BUT, there is a real world possibility that this has to do with you Harm. Lord knows you've accumulated enough enemies during your career."
"I realize that sir."
"I've managed to pull some strings at Mira Mar for you. Captain Cooper who runs the base said to stay in touch with him and let him know what you find during your side investigation."
"What about the SDPD?" (Said Harm)
"It's there investigation so let them run with the ball. I would advise not to step on their toes and make you're findings available to them. That should open up the sharing of information that they have found out available to you."
"I don't know what to say Admiral" (Said Harm)
"Not a damn thing. We don't leave our people hung out to dry...or members of the extended family. Stay in touch with me the both of you."
"Yes sir."
(Mac walked him to the door as Harm retreated upstairs to finish packing. As AJ put on his coat he turned to Mac and spoke.)
"Keep an eye on him and help him anyway you can Mac. He's going to need you know more than ever."
"I'm with him sir all the way."
"That's saying a lot Colonel"
"I'd follow him to hell and back in a heart beat sir"
"Well be careful, my instincts tell me that is where you both may be traveling towards"
(AJ left the loft and twenty minutes later so did Harm and Mac. The drive to the airport was silent as well as the plane ride to California. Mac found herself wanting to say something to break the tension; to ease Harm's pain, but logically she new nothing would do so. Harm found himself trapped in an abyss of darkness. Unsure of what he would find other than inherent death and the evil that brought it about. During the descent of the plane to the ground in California Harm found himself leaning towards Mac and reached for her hand. )
"If I haven't said it already, thank you Sarah." (Harm said breaking the silence)
"I'm always here for you Harm, its what we do for each other remeber remember?"
(He nodded in acknowledgment as she gripped his hand and held on tightly. No words were needed as silence and their eyes conveyed the meaning of what they were thinking. Partners, friends, soul mates forged through honor and loyalty, bound by unspoken desire and love. Dark roads and hidden dangers lie ahead they knew, and yet in the most trying times, a glimmer of light always seemed to break through the clouds.)
SAME TIME UNKNOWN LOCATION
(The dark man sat behind a desk in a large leather chair while the thunder crackled outside hinting of the rain storm to follow. Unseen is his face as he looks over what appears to be an apartment building's schematics. One of his men; Holmes enters the room and speaks)
"Sir, Mackenzie and Rabb have landed in California"
"Good, is Agent Webb aware of our resurgence yet?"
"No sir, at this point our CIA friend says Webb's attention is diverted toward Iraq for the moment as we figured it would be."
"What about Chegwidden and his staff?"
"They are too busy playing the supportive family members for Rabb to notice anything out of the ordinary as you assumed they would."
"Pathetically predictable. And the girl?"
"Miss Grace is staying with Petty Officer Jennifer Coates while Rabb is out of town as we assumed she would."
"Perfect. When is the funeral for Rabb's parents?"
"A small ceremony will take place tomorrow off the coves in the La Jolla community in the early afternoon."
"Excellent. Ensure that phase two is executed by the time he gets back from the funeral."
"Yes sir"
(The man turned as Holmes left the room and took a cigar from a drawer in his desk. Thinking to himself, he lit the cigar and started to smoke it. As his puzzle for destruction was being put together piece by perfect piece, Harm's life was coming undone in the same fashion. Silently the man stood there as the game played on and his plan of vengeance assumed life unto itself)
TO BE CONTINUED...
"Admiral!" (Harm said as he spun around at the unexpected voice) "You startled me. I forgot Mac said you would be coming by."
"I came as soon as could leave the office. There is no way I can tell you how sorry I am for your loss son."
"I...I appreciate that sir"
"I think with what's just happened Harm, you'd better go ahead and call me AJ"
"I would if I could deal with anything else out of the ordinary right now."
"Understood son." (He pauses for a moment before speaking) "Ah pardon my insensitivity, but with all that's happened I would have thought you'd keep your door locked."
"Normally I would, but Mattie called me on her way home from school and wanted to say goodbye. Of course she forgot her key again" (Harm said with a little father-like pride)
"How are you holding up?"
"About as well as I can be considering sir. Truthfully a lot better than last night."
"I take it Mac was able to help a bit?"
"Yes sir, she definitely through out a lifeline when I needed one."
"That's what family is all about son, don't forget it."
"I won't sir. Things are kind of surreal right now. When I get to Lo Jolla, its going to become a reality. I just don't know how I'm going to deal."
"I'll tell you how. You're going to let Mac take care of you. You're going to grieve, you're going to cry and lord knows you're going to feel pain...but you will live and you will see what you have to live for."
"You forgot one thing sir."
"No I didn't Harm, we will find the son of a bitch that did this...I can promise you that!"
"We sir..."
"Like I said son...family."
"Aye sir."
"When do you leave Harm?" (Shifting topics)
"In about an hour sir. Mac is on her way over right now."
(As they conversed Mattie walked in...)
"Hey Harm its me."
"Mattie we're in here."
"High Admiral" (Said Mattie as she walked in the loft further)
"Miss Grace" (AJ nods to her)
"Harm, Jenn's downstairs waiting for me. She's taking me out to dinner right now. I just wanted to stop by and say goodbye before you left."
"I'm heading out too as soon as Mac gets here."
"Ok...call me alright?"
"Promise baby"
(Harm hugs her tightly. Mattie separates herself and turns to leave)
"Harm, let Mac help, even if you don't want too. She's good for you."
(Mattie leaves)
"You sure she's just fifteen Harm" (Said AJ)
"Yes sir why?"
"She's got some damn good advice"
"Don't I know it sir"
(As they spoke Mac let herself in)
"Hey squid you ready...oh sorry Admiral I didn't know you were here?"
"No apologies necessary Mac. I just wanted to stop by and see how you both were. I know you will have a lot to take on Harm, but like I said before, you'll make it. Both of you though, watch yourselves out there. Aside from the tragedy of the situation, I think we can all agree that this doesn't smell right. That being said this is not a JAG investigation. You are both on someone else's turf."
"But sir you can't expect us not to find out who did this!" (Exclaimed Mac)
"I don't Mac. I'm giving you a real world perspective. It's not Navy business. BUT, there is a real world possibility that this has to do with you Harm. Lord knows you've accumulated enough enemies during your career."
"I realize that sir."
"I've managed to pull some strings at Mira Mar for you. Captain Cooper who runs the base said to stay in touch with him and let him know what you find during your side investigation."
"What about the SDPD?" (Said Harm)
"It's there investigation so let them run with the ball. I would advise not to step on their toes and make you're findings available to them. That should open up the sharing of information that they have found out available to you."
"I don't know what to say Admiral" (Said Harm)
"Not a damn thing. We don't leave our people hung out to dry...or members of the extended family. Stay in touch with me the both of you."
"Yes sir."
(Mac walked him to the door as Harm retreated upstairs to finish packing. As AJ put on his coat he turned to Mac and spoke.)
"Keep an eye on him and help him anyway you can Mac. He's going to need you know more than ever."
"I'm with him sir all the way."
"That's saying a lot Colonel"
"I'd follow him to hell and back in a heart beat sir"
"Well be careful, my instincts tell me that is where you both may be traveling towards"
(AJ left the loft and twenty minutes later so did Harm and Mac. The drive to the airport was silent as well as the plane ride to California. Mac found herself wanting to say something to break the tension; to ease Harm's pain, but logically she new nothing would do so. Harm found himself trapped in an abyss of darkness. Unsure of what he would find other than inherent death and the evil that brought it about. During the descent of the plane to the ground in California Harm found himself leaning towards Mac and reached for her hand. )
"If I haven't said it already, thank you Sarah." (Harm said breaking the silence)
"I'm always here for you Harm, its what we do for each other remeber remember?"
(He nodded in acknowledgment as she gripped his hand and held on tightly. No words were needed as silence and their eyes conveyed the meaning of what they were thinking. Partners, friends, soul mates forged through honor and loyalty, bound by unspoken desire and love. Dark roads and hidden dangers lie ahead they knew, and yet in the most trying times, a glimmer of light always seemed to break through the clouds.)
SAME TIME UNKNOWN LOCATION
(The dark man sat behind a desk in a large leather chair while the thunder crackled outside hinting of the rain storm to follow. Unseen is his face as he looks over what appears to be an apartment building's schematics. One of his men; Holmes enters the room and speaks)
"Sir, Mackenzie and Rabb have landed in California"
"Good, is Agent Webb aware of our resurgence yet?"
"No sir, at this point our CIA friend says Webb's attention is diverted toward Iraq for the moment as we figured it would be."
"What about Chegwidden and his staff?"
"They are too busy playing the supportive family members for Rabb to notice anything out of the ordinary as you assumed they would."
"Pathetically predictable. And the girl?"
"Miss Grace is staying with Petty Officer Jennifer Coates while Rabb is out of town as we assumed she would."
"Perfect. When is the funeral for Rabb's parents?"
"A small ceremony will take place tomorrow off the coves in the La Jolla community in the early afternoon."
"Excellent. Ensure that phase two is executed by the time he gets back from the funeral."
"Yes sir"
(The man turned as Holmes left the room and took a cigar from a drawer in his desk. Thinking to himself, he lit the cigar and started to smoke it. As his puzzle for destruction was being put together piece by perfect piece, Harm's life was coming undone in the same fashion. Silently the man stood there as the game played on and his plan of vengeance assumed life unto itself)
TO BE CONTINUED...