A/N : I needed a bit of a break to gather my thoughts about this chapter so I started a story based on an alternate timeline for season 9 called 'A Man Called Ghost'. I've got the first chapter up and hope you all like it. Just a warning, its rated R for language and adult situations. It is eventually going to be a Harm and Mac, but it starts out Webb/Mac Harm/Others. For those avidly following the You Can't Live in the Past stories, rest assured that they are my primary works. 'A Man Called Ghost' is my secondary until they are done and will be updated fairly slowly.

Chapter 27

USS Patrick Henry
Monday August 16, 2004
0900 Zulu

"Lieutenant Reed, what was the reason you were given for the early return of your aircraft from its mission on June 6th of this year?" Mac asked the young Lieutenant, the radar operator on the Hawkeye that was tasked to fly high cover for Harm on that ill fated mission.

"Lieutenant Commander Riley said we had a mechanical problem ma'am. Raptor 1 ordered us to return to base."

"What was the nature of the mechanical problem Lieutenant?"

"Ah…to be truthful ma'am, I'm not too sure. Ghost…Lieutenant Commander Riley ma'am…he said we were losing power to one of the engines. We tried to trace the problem but couldn't see anything wrong. Ghost was worried we weren't going to be able to make it back…it's a good thing Raptor 1 ordered us back ma'am."

"Isn't it true however Lieutenant that when you returned the flight crews failed to find anything wrong with the aircraft?"

"Ah, yes ma'am. Can't rightly explain it. They went over everything and said it was all fine. If I may ask ma'am, we were asked all these questions already by NCIS and our JAG."

"And the question Lieutenant?"

"Well, respectfully ma'am, why are you asking us again?"

"We're hoping someone might remember something they forgot before."

Shaking his head the young Lieutenant looked truly sorry. "I'm sorry ma'am…all I remember is what I said before. Ghost told us we had a problem, we came back. Next thing we heard Raptor 1 had gone down in a dogfight and a SAR team was dispatched as soon as we could."

"'As soon as we could' Lieutenant? I thought the SAR team was dispatched immediately."

"Well, it was as fast as we could safely ma'am. The area was hot, so it was recommended we wait until we could get a read on how hot exactly."

"How much of a wait are we talking Lieutenant?" Mac asked with a rough edge to her voice. Harm pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against to step up and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Its ok Mac." He whispered in her ear. Nodding at the Lieutenant Harm said "You can go son. Thanks."

"Hammer…I'm sorry we left you out there like that. I don't know what we could have done if we stuck around, but maybe we could have done something…directed them to you if nothing else." Lieutenant Reed said in a tone that pulled at Harm's heart. The kids really did feel bad about his going down.

"Its ok Keeper. Send Lieutenant Baker in when you see her."

"Aye aye sir." Keeper said as he came to attention and then turned smartly to leave the office.

After he left Harm sat down to Mac and put his hand on top of hers where it rested on the table. "Mac…we're going to find something…we just have to keep digging. But don't be hard on the kids for being kids."

"Harm…they disobeyed orders…they left you out there…" Mac said in a soft voice.

"No Mac…I ordered them back. As operational lead, my orders carried. If I issued those orders because of bad information, then we look for the source of bad information. Right now that's Riley, but he had to have a reason to lie. We just need to find it."

"You're right Harm…damn I'm saying that a lot."

Smiling Harm gave her hand a gentle squeeze before removing his from on top of it. "Its ok Mac…I've been saying that to you for almost eight years."

A knock at the hatch prevented Mac from saying anything to his statement and Harm stood up and called out "Enter."

A willowy blonde woman with Lieutenant bars on her flight suit entered and came to attention. "Lieutenant Baker reporting as ordered."

"Have a seat Lieutenant."

"Thank you CA..sir." Baker said with a slight smile in apology.

"Its ok Baker. Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie is going to ask you some questions. Just answer them as honestly as you can and we'll have you out of here in time for mess."

"Aye aye sir."

Harm wearily rubbed his eyes. They'd been interviewing crew for almost nine hours now and from where he sat they were no closer to finding an answer as to why Riley had been murdered. Mac was making notes about the interview in his laptop to be sent back to the office when the instant messenger icon started flashing.

"Probably Bud." Harm said as he wandered over to see who it was.

"Austin" Mac said as she saw who was sending the message. "I'll give you some privacy."

"You don't need to Mac…really. She probably just wants to know what I wanted when I called her. Stay…you can ask her any questions that pop into your head."

"You don't want me asking her what I want to know." Mac said in a barely audible mutter. Harm wasn't too sure he'd heard her right, but let it slide.

Austin: Got your messages. What's up?

Flyboy: Need to talk to you about Riley.

Austin: Heard you were looking into that again. What do you need?

Flyboy: Could he have been killed by the subject of your invest?

Austin: Maybe…we…I think that the subject was onboard at the time

Flyboy: Who was he?

Austin: Can't tell you here. Where are you?

Flyboy: On the Henry. Mac and I came out to poke around again and see what we could fine.

Austin: Say hi for me.

Flyboy: She's right here.

Austin: Hi LC MacKenzie.

Flyboy: - Mac Call me Mac Meg.

Austin: Alright Mac. ;) This is getting a little long.

Flyboy: Tell me about it. Can we talk when we get back?

Austin: Leave a message when you get back and I'll call you. I hear you're working with Krennick again

Flyboy: Don't remind me.

Austin: She still bad?

Flyboy: Worse.

Austin: Maybe I can help.

Flyboy: Maybe…we'll talk. Hey…did you really tell her what she said you did when we were in Hong Kong?

Austin: Regretfully.

Flyboy: Regret telling or regret feeling?

Austin: Telling. Made me feel like I was like her.

Flyboy. Never. Anyway…call you when we get back. Later.

Austin: Take care you two.

After he logged off the instant messenger he looked over at Mac to see her looking at him intensely. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing…none of my business." Mac said with a slight blush.

"You want to know what she told Krennick when I was captured." Harm guessed.

"A little…what do you mean captured?"

"I got kidnapped by the Chinese when I went to Hong Kong to advice on a position paper State was preparing. Naval law and all that."

"I didn't know that." Mac said shocked.

"Its not something I like to remember. They kept me pretty drugged up…I thought I was talking to my father a lot of the time."

"Oh." Mac said softly at Harm's admission.

"As for what Meg said…sorry you'll have to ask her." Harm shrugged. He wasn't going to tell the woman he loved another woman admitted to wanting to sleep with him. Besides which he didn't have anyone but Krennick's word on the story. He wasn't going to trust what Krennick said enough to get Mac mad at him and risk pushing her away when he wanted to bring her closer.

Three days later they had interviewed all the flight crews, the Hawkeye crews, the Air Boss and his team, the Skipper, the fighter pilots and everyone else they could think of. So far the only lead they could come up with was two pilots who remembered seeing Riley talking with someone who fit the description of the CIA spook who was there to debrief Harm when Webb went missing. The Skipper said the spook said his name was Rivers when he came on board. Agent Rivers. Not a lot, but it was something.

"I can check with some of my agency contacts about Rivers…see what we can learn there." Mac said hesitantly.

"Thanks. If he was talking to Riley, Riley may have talked to Meg. When I meet her when we get back I'll see what she knows. At least we're not going to leave tomorrow empty handed." Harm said as he stood up and started to do a short pacing behind Mac. "Why would Riley be talking to Rivers?"

"That's the question, isn't it Harm?"

"Could Riley be double dipping?"

"What do you mean?"

"Working for NI and CIA at the same time?"

"That's a little far fetched, don't you think?"

"I don't know Mac…this whole thing seems a little far fetched." Harm said as he came to a stop in his pacing right behind Mac. Reaching over her should he started pulling up information on his laptop. It was only after the files started opening that he felt Mac's breath on his face and realized his face was right next to hers. Feeling the blush rising in his face Harm stood up quickly. He didn't want someone to walk in on them and provide the image of them being improper in their conduct with each other; especially with Krennick looking for blackmail material. "I'm sorry Mac."

So quickly did Harm step back that he didn't see the momentary flash of sadness in Mac's eyes or hear the sigh that escaped her lips. "So you think Riley was really working for the Company?"

"I don't know." Harm admitted, deciding it was best to ignore the whole moment that had just happened. As hard as that was, he wasn't going to give anyone anything that could hurt Mac. "Maybe. Meg might know something when I talk to her."

A knock at the hatch prevented Mac from saying anything in response. The knock was followed by the hatch opening to reveal the ensign who had met them when they first came aboard.

"A ship to shore call from a Commander Turner for you Commander."

"Thank you Ensign." Harm said with a nod. When the young officer was gone he said to Mac "I wonder what Sturgis wants?"

"Only one way to find out." Mac said with a smile.

Nodding Harm left to make his way to the communications room.

"Can I help you sir?" One of the petty officers on duty asked when he entered the room.

"Commander Rabb. I was told I have a ship to shore?"

Checking a clipboard the Petty Officer nodded and gestured towards one of the phones. "You can take it over there sir."

"Thanks." Harm said and then picked up the phone. "Rabb."

"Harm, its Sturgis. How are things going out there?"

"Not that great. We've got a few new leads, but we've also got more questions than we came out with."

"Well its something at least."

"I suppose. You called all this way just to find out how we were making out on the investigation?"

"Not just that. Just thought you'd like to know that your friend knows that you know about the detectives."

"Really?"

"They found out yesterday…and they weren't happy about it."

"Any plans made?"

"Don't think so Harm. Just watch your six." Sturgis said seriously.