Note: Same song and dance, I don' own them yada yada yada.

Chapter 11

Somewhere in Iraq
Tuesday June 7, 2004
Unknown Time

Harm winced as Skates tied the bandage around his leg. He was still slightly embarrassed that he had to punch out, land without a scratch and then had the stupidity to fall down on a rock to get injured. It had taken him the better part of a couple hours to find Skates in the dark desert the night before, but he had and he'd led her to a secluded wadi he had found while looking for her. They had huddled together for warmth not wanting to chance a fire even when the temperature dropped below freezing.

Two hours ago the sun had come up and Harm had left Skates to scout out the area. It was during this little excursion of his that he had tripped and fallen on a hidden chunk of rock. Limping back to where they had camped he had had to endure Skates laughter as he explained what had happened.

"I saw some dust clouds off in that direction." Harm said pointing north. "We're going to have to go on the assumption that whoever it is they don't mean us well…as far as I can tell we're in contested territory."

Skates nodded silently and began to gather up the gear they had salvaged from their ejector seats. Harm checked the magazine in his .45 and slid it back home. Ensuring that the safety was still on Harm slid the handgun into his pocket and moved to help Skates pack up. Her limp was getting worse and he wasn't sure it was a simple sprain as she kept telling him. He knew she was tough, but the landing hadn't exactly been fun.

"Where we going CAG?" Skates asked when she had everything gathered up and ready to go.

"I say we move away form whoever's out there and follow the wadi that way." Harm said pointing away from the direction he'd scouted.

Skates just fell in beside him and started limping when he started limping. The two of them made quite the pair.

All through what Harm guessed was the morning the two of them made their way down the shallow wadi. As far as Harm could tell it would be a small stream during the wet season, if this blasted land ever had a wet season. As they sun rose higher Harm started to look for shelter for them to rest under during the heat of the afternoon. The best he could find was a slight indentation in the side of the wadi where the two of them could get a little shade. Tapping Skates on the shoulder he nodded towards the indentation and they both hunkered down for the afternoon.

"How much water do we have left?" Harm asked after drowsing for awhile. Skates handed him one of the two canteens that was about half full.

"The other one's still full, but if we don't find a source soon we're going to be mighty thirsty." Skates said wearily.

"We'll stick to one mouthful every half hour. I know its going to be rough Skates, but it should keep us alive." Harm said quietly. "Get some sleep Liz. I'll keep watch."

"I'll stay up with you CAG…I can't sleep just yet."

"Get some sleep Skates. We're both going to need all our strength to get out of this. That's an order Liz."

"Aye aye sir." Skates said with a smile then she rolled over and closed her eyes.

Harm hated the fact that they had had to abandon their seats with the built in locator beacon, but anyone unfriendly out there would be looking to find those seats, and they did not want to be around when they came calling. He left signs for any friendlies that found the spot but they had to move on. They had water and food for two days at best, one .45, a medkit and their flight suits and helmets. Neither one of their radios had made it through the landing. Not much to build a house with, but then again he wasn't exactly looking to join the neighborhood.

While Skates slept Harm eased the left sleeve of his flight suit up to reveal a deep purple bruise that looked to be getting larger. He didn't think it was broken, but he couldn't be too sure. His hand still worked, and he could wiggle his fingers, but it was starting to hurt like hell. Reaching over Harm popped open the medkit and grabbed a couple painkiller pills which he popped dry. Leaning back Harm set the .45 on his lap and settled in to keep watch while his RIO slept.

Six hours later Skates was shaking him awake. "Almost night time CAG…sun's starting to go down. Thought you might want some food." She said as she held out an MRE pouch.

"Great…cold uncooked…lasagna." He said reading the side of the pouch. "One good thing about these things."

"Whatever it is CAG, I can't see it." Skates said with a grimace.

"Well…I can be pretty sure that whatever 'meat' is in these things isn't really meat." Harm said with a big smile.

Laughing Skates handed him one of the canteens so he could use his one mouthful to wash down the barely digestible meal.

"I'm gonna go take a look around…see if we'll be safe here for the night." Harm said after they had finished eating.

Skates nodded silently and watched him stand up and start to limp up the side of the wadi. "CAG?" she said when he got to the top.

Looking back down at his RIO Harm couldn't help but notice her little smile. "Yeah Skates?"

"Don't fall on anymore rocks."

Smiling Harm shook his head. "I'll try not to sailor. Keep the homefires burning. Back shortly."

Harm slowly moved his way among the sand and rock around their position looking for signs of habitation or activity of any kind. After what felt like hours he decided to turn back, he hadn't seen anything. Just as he was turning around he caught sight of a wink of light in the distance. Stopping he dropped flat and looked at the light for a few minutes. From the way it shifted and flickered he guessed it was firelight…and it looked to be a good many miles away. Probably not a threat, but he made a mental note to warn Skates and then keep a sharp eye out during the night.

Making his way carefully back to Skates Harm made sure to let her know he was coming by whispering her name as he got to the top of the wadi bed. When she responded he slid down right next to her.

"Looks to be pretty clear, but there's a fire or something a couple miles out. Keep a good eye out tonight when you're on watch…we don't want someone sneaking up on us."

Nodding Skates slid closer to Harm and it was then that he noticed she was shivering. "Skates…I'm going to put my arm around you so we can warm up. The temperature is starting to drop again." Harm said as he watched the fading light.

"Green light Commander…" Skates said with a smile. "But just for the arm. I'm still engaged you know."

"How is your fiancé taking you being at sea again?" Harm asked, remembering she'd given up a stateside posting to serve on the Henry again.

"He wasn't too happy about it…but he understood." Skates said quietly. After a few minutes of silence she went on. "CAG…can I ask you something?"

"Sure Skates."

"Its personal sir." She warned.

Harm was pretty sure he knew where this was going after his question about her fiancé, but talking was better than sitting silently. "I think I know what you're going to ask Skates…but go ahead." He said wearily.

"Its just sir…Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie sir...whatever happened between you two? If its too personal sir you don't have to answer…but it just seemed to me when they brought us back from the drink she cared for you a lot." She said with another shiver.

Sighing Harm wiggled closer to Skates. "In a way I do mind you asking Skates…but its not like its classified information. Mac and I…well its been a rough little while between the two of us."

"What happened sir?"

"A lot. I…well Skates I went haring off after her on a mission when I was ordered not to. I thought she needed saving, and she did. There was even a moment…I thought we were finally going to be able to cut through all the bullshit between us." Harm said thoughtfully, remembering the conversation he and Mac had had in the jungles of South America, how close he had come to telling her how he truly felt. "But just like every other time we both backed off. I didn't say what I wanted to, we got out, she started to date Webb, and things have been…strained between us. We just can't seem to work things out Skates. I guess I've pretty much blown it with her."

Skates didn't say anything when he finished, she just sat beside him with her arm around him. After a couple more minutes Harm went on. "Thing is Skates…I'm tired of fighting with her…we just can't seem to stop. Every day it seems we have to go off into a fight in order to be able to go home at night. And things have become…even more complicated."

"How so sir?" Skates asked quietly.

"Liz…we're sitting in the desert freezing our asses off waiting for someone to find us. Do you think we can drop the 'sirs'? My name's Harm in case you forgot."

"Alright sir. I mean Harm."

"After all we've been through Skates you think it would be easier for you. Anyway…complicated. Well…a week or so before I shipped out an old friend came to visit…Meg Austin. She used to be stationed at JAG HQ with me…she was my junior partner for about a year. We ended up getting pretty close during our year together…" Harm said.

"You didn't, did you Harm?" Skates asked in shock. She knew the CAG was a little unorthodoxed, but she couldn't picture him doing something to throw away his career.

"Not that kind of close Skates. Not that I didn't think about it…and joke about it with her. Things just…didn't go that far. I suppose having Commander Krenick trying to sleep with me probably had something to do with that."

"Excuse me?" Skates asked in shock again.

"She was the Admiral's aide…thought she had something to prove…she pretty much just viewed me as another conquest. Nothing ever happened." Harm assured Skates. "Anyway…Meg comes to visit just before I shipped out, and she pretty much comes out and tells me that she asked to be transferred all those years ago because she was afraid she was falling for me."

"And now she's back?"

"Not anymore…she's was just in DC for a TAD…she's not there anymore." Harm said elusively. It wasn't a lie after all. "Anyway…since Meg's been visiting Mac's been acting all weird…she even told me she doesn't like Meg."

"Sounds like she's jealous Harm."

"About what? Meg and I are just friends."

"Harm…you just told me the woman said she thought she was falling in love with you when you worked together. Now she suddenly shows up again and she confesses this to you? Sounds like Colonel MacKenzie has reason to be jealous."

"How do you mean? Mac's with Webb now…she's moved on past whatever we might have had in the past."

"Doesn't sound like it to me Hammer; sounds like she's got a case of the Hammer blues. What are you going to do?"

Sighing Harm shrugged his shoulders slightly. "I don't know Skates…that's the problem. I never know how to 'do' anything with Mac…no matter what I do she goes off on me. I always end up pushing her further away."

"Well sir…she called off a wedding for you…she gets jealous when another woman you were close to shows that she has feeling for you…you ever try telling her you love her?"

"I can't Skates…she's with Webb. And besides whenever we try to talk we end up fighting, I told you that."

"Just makes the making up that much more fun Hammer. You want my advice…you either got to tell her you love her or let her go for good."

"I have..she's with Webb." Harm said dejectedly.

"Doesn't sound like it Hammer….you keep saying that like you're trying to convince yourself of something."

Silently Harm looked out at the night sky, watching the now familiar patterns of stars slowly move in their eternal dance. "Get some sleep Skates. I'll keep first watch." Harm said bitterly. Maybe she had a point…maybe he hadn't let Mac go completely. Was he being fair to Mac by holding on, even a little bit? Could she be truly happy with Webb as long as he was around?

"Night sir. And if I were you sir, I'd do the talking and not the letting go. All I know sir is you've gone through a lot for each other, and it'd be a shame to waste that by walking away." Skates said and then she dropped her head to Harm's shoulder to try and get some sleep.

Looking back up at the stars Harm sat and thought some more. What right did he have to tell Mac he still loved her? And even if he could bring himself to let her go completely, what would he do? He couldn't let her go and still see her every day…he would go nuts; the last six months had proven that. So where would he go? Could he handle being a shipboard JAG? Or a base JAG at some foreign station? After working at HQ as senior lawyer? Maybe he could stay on board the Henry as a pilot…make his designator change permanent…again. Could he step down from being CAG? Keeter would be back in a couple months…and the job was his by rights. Harm was just a…substitute teacher. Maybe he would leave the service and set up a private practice somewhere…but then again why would he do that with two years left in his 20?

Reaching down Harm picked up a pebble and tossed it across the wadi. All this wasn't even addressing what he would do about Meg. And speaking of Meg, why was she on board the Henry. She had pretty much admitted that it wasn't a JAG op…if the Admiral didn't know it wasn't JAG. So who could it be? Harm paused in his thoughts as he thought this. There were only two other possibilities and he didn't like either one. Naval Intelligence or CIA. Swearing silently Harm looked for something else to throw. So why had she been at JAG? Was she actually advising someone at the Pentagon or was she simply setting up a cover. So what about her time with him? Could he trust anything she'd said? What had happened to the Meg he'd known?

Looking up again Harm was surprised to see a lightening of the sky to the east. It couldn't be morning already, could it? Skates had only gone to sleep a few minutes ago. Softly he began to shake Skates. "Skates…get up. Something's going on." He said softly.

"Harm? What is it?" Skates asked sleepily.

"Not sure…its getting light out though."

Yawning Skates slowly stood up. "You stayed up all night Harm?" she asked in shock.

Shaking his head Harm continued to watch the sky lighten until he had to admit that it was indeed morning and he'd been sitting there thinking all night.

"I guess I did…I was busy thinking on what you said Skates…guess I didn't realize how long I'd been at it."

"Well we can have breakfast I guess." Skates said leaning over to pull out their last two meal pouches. As she was straightening up to offer a choice to Harm he held his hand up.

"Hear that?" he asked quietly.

"Hear what? I don't…"

"Shhh. There…do you hear it now?" he asked quietly.

Skates stood there obviously straining to hear what Harm heard. After a couple minutes she nodded slowly. "Sounds like…engines. Vehicles?"

Harm nodded silently and motioned her to stay put. Pulling out the .45 once more Harm wormed his way up the side of the wadi until he could see over the edge. Swearing silently he slid back down to the bottom wincing as he put weight on his injured leg. "Its vehicles alright. Trucks, jeeps, even a couple light armored vehicles by the looks of them. About a mile away…and they aren't coming to take us home."

"Shit." Was all Skates said. Both of them made their way up the side of the wadi to where Harm had been laying and watched as the vehicles slowly got closer.

"Skates."

"Yes sir?"

"I'm sorry I got you into this again." Harm said with genuine regret. He always seemed to get this young woman into trouble when she flew with him.

"Well sir…I think this makes me senior member of the 'I punched out with Harm' club. And its not your fault sir. You sure do know how to show a girl a good time though…and you always manage to pick interesting venues."

Smiling Harm shaded his eyes against the rising sun and looked back at the approaching vehicles. After a couple more minutes he cocked his head to the side…he was starting to make out another sound…something rhythmic. Thump thump thump thump.

"An apache sir!" Skates said excitedly, pointing off to the left. "Three of them!" Sure enough a trio of the combat choppers were coming in low and fast towards the approaching convoy. At the same time all three started firing their gattling cannons into the cluster of vehicles. Two of the trucks and the jeep burst into flames immediately and then the helos banked in tight turns to make a second pass, this time firing their rockets into the armored vehicles.

"Makes a hell of a show, doesn't it Commander." A familiar voice said from behind them. Turning his head quickly Harm saw the familiar smiling face of Gunnery Sergeant Galindez.

"GUNNY! Damn am I glad to see you man."

"Me too sir." Gunny said with a barely detectable pause. Behind him were a number of marines wearing desert fatigues. "Captain, we've got our two wayward pilots."

Sliding down the side of the wadi Harm limped up to Gunny and slapped him on the shoulder. "Get a medic over here Gunny…the Lieutenant Commander twisted her ankle when we put down."

"Yes sir…and it looks like you can use one yourself sir if you don't mind me saying. Corporal, get up here and take a look at these two."

"Yes gunny." The medic said and rushed up to sit Skates down and started to give her an examination.

"Commander, this is Captain Waters, my CO." Gunny said as another man approached.

Nodding respectfully the marine Captain shook Harm's hand when it was offered. "Damn glad to see you Captain."

"Thank you sir, although you may wish to reserve that judgment."

"Captain?"

"In a minute sir, I want to have you checked out by Corporal Anders first. We've been looking for you since you didn't return to the Henry."

"Well we're glad you found us Captain."

"One moment sir." The captain said when he saw his radioman coming up to him. Taking the handset he listened for a moment to whoever was on the other end. "Roger Sandhawk, we have the package. Thanks for the cover." Handing the handset back to his radioman Captain Waters motioned for Harm to follow him.

Moving a short distance away from his men and Skates Captain Waters looked at Harm with regret in his eyes. "Commander…sir…"

"What is it Waters? Spit it out man."

"Damn it sir, this isn't right."

"What is it Waters?" Harm asked tersely. After a day and a half in the desert he had no patience left.

"Sir, the Iraqis didn't just chance across you here…they're looking for you. Everyone is sir. They're saying on the news that you shot down an unarmed civilian aircraft…there's talk of a War Crimes trial sir."

"Come again Captain?"

"Like I said sir, it ain't right. Sir…my brother serves on the Seahawk…he's a machinist's mate. Damn it Commander, he was there when you played tag with that tomahawk. You saved his life sir, and the life of everyone else on that boat. You're the real deal Commander…a hero. And now they want me to take you and the Lieutenant Commander into custody and return you to the Patrick Henry for some kind of investigation."

Harm stood there in shock as what the Captain had said sunk in. There was no unarmed civilian aircraft, he was sure of it. Arrested? An investigation?

"Damn it Commander, they should be giving you another medal, not hanging you out to dry." Captain Waters ploughed on unaware of Harm's reeling shock.

Shaking his head Harm held up a hand. "You're supposed to take us into custody Captain?"

"Yes sir…like I said sir, taking you into custody is the crime here."

"Captain…that's not for you or I to decide." Harm said looking at the younger man who was so earnestly trying to tell Harm he did not want to do his duty. Sighing Harm lowered his arm. "Captain…you've been given an order you must obey. Son, you do what you've got to do, and I'll do what I've got to. The truth will come out son…there was no civilian aircraft, and they're going to have a hell of a time proving otherwise. Do your duty Captain."

"Commander Rabb, it is my duty to inform you that you are under arrest for the suspected commission of war crimes. Please surrender your sidearm and come with me." Captain Waters said in a deep sigh.