A/N Just wanted to apologize to those who've been waiting patiently. I know this took a bit longer than normal to get posted, but unfortunately things haven't been as easy going as usual lately. I can however promise that you won't have to wait nearly as long for the next chapter.

A Man Called Ghost

Chapter 27

Mac wandered into the break room to see if she could round up a good stiff cup of coffee to start her morning. Seeing the empty pot staring back at her, she felt both elated and disappointed at the same time. She was elated that she'd be able to make some good old fashioned Marine grade coffee, disappointed that she would have wait for it to brew. With a sigh she leaned back against the counter and waited for the coffee.

"Is that stuff going to be safe for human consumption?" A deep voice asked a few moments later.

"Sturgis. Welcome back." Mac gave a little half smile to her colleague. "When did you get in?"

"Late last night." Sturgis replied trying not to let his curiosity show.

"What's up Sturgis?" Mac asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee. "You've got that look on your face again."

"What look?" Sturgis asked trying to sound innocent.

"The one that says you know something but you don't want to say anything. So spill."

"Have you heard from Harm lately?" Sturgis asked in response. He knew he shouldn't say anything about running into Harm while he was on the Pat, but Harm suddenly showing up playing SEAL had him worried.

"He left on an op almost a week ago." Mac answered evasively. No one at the office knew yet that she'd forced herself into Harm's life again. "Why?" she added suspiciously.

"No reason." Sturgis poured himself a cup of the thick black sludge Mac called coffee.

"Then you wouldn't have said anything. You know something, don't you Sturgis?"

"Yes." Sturgis answered softly as he turned to leave only to come to a stop as Coates entered the break room.

"Sir, ma'am, the Admiral would like to see you immediately." Coates said respectfully.

"Thanks Jen." Mac said with a little smile at the young Petty Officer.

"Enter!" The Admiral barked when Mac and Sturgis knocked on his door a few minutes later.

"Welcome back Commander. How was the trip out to the Pat?" Admiral Chegwidden said, motioning for his two senior attorneys to sit down.

"Interesting, to say the least, sir." Sturgis answered. Mac saw that look on his face again; Sturgis definitely knew something he wasn't sharing.

"A routine mishap investigation called 'interesting'? Are you feeling alright Commander?" The Admiral asked with an incredulous look.

"Ah, the investigation wasn't exactly interesting, sir. But there was a SEAL team aboard getting ready for an op."

"Well. That brings us right to the point. Colonel, you'll be heading out to the Patrick Henry this afternoon, Coates will have your travel arrangements."

"Yes, sir." Mac waited for the Admiral to continue with the details.

"Two days ago the SEALs the Commander just mentioned took part in a mission to apprehend a known arms dealer who is funding some terrorist groups in Iraq. The mission went south and one of the SEALs died. Single shot to the chest from close range is the cause of death. Shipboard JAG is in over his head." The Admiral said looking down at the file on his desk. "No one is saying how exactly that wound happened, and I want you to find out why Colonel. If someone screwed the pooch, I want their ass in a sling, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir." Mac answered crisply.

"Hand off any of your urgent cases to the Commander and then secure for the day." The Admiral dismissed his two officers.

Twenty minutes later Mac was knocking on Sturgis' door with two files in hand. "Hey. Got two winners for you. The Summers assault, and the Granger article 32." She said with a smile when Sturgis looked up. He still had that look in his eyes, like he wanted to tell her something. "Sturgis? You ok?"

"I'm fine. Thanks for the files." Sturgis gestured for Mac to put the files on his desk.

"What aren't you telling me Sturgis?"

Sturgis looked out the window in thought. He knew he shouldn't say anything, but with Mac going out to the carrier she needed to be warned before she left, especially with Harm being a "member" of the unit she was going to investigate. "You said Harm left on a mission about a week ago?" Sturgis began hesitantly.

"Yeah. Didn't say where, I didn't ask."

"The Gulf of Sidra." Sturgis said quietly.

"What about it?"

"It's where the Pat is currently deployed."

"And?" Mac prompted.

"Look, I know I'm not supposed to say anything, but you need to know before you go out there. You need to know what to expect." Sturgis knew he was reaching in an attempt to justify his actions.

"Go on."

"Harm's on the Pat. I ran into him the day I left. He's with the SEALs Mac." Sturgis ran a hand over the back of his head in frustration. He hated being a bearer of tales.

"Okay." Mac said slowly.

"You don't seem shocked." Sturgis was mildly surprised.

"Sturgis, don't take this the wrong way, but you haven't really seen what's happening with Harm. Hell, none of us were. I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up here masquerading as the new Chief of Naval Operations if it suited the CIA's agenda." Mac said with a slight shrug. At least if he was on a carrier she knew he wouldn't be drinking.

"Well, that's it then." Strugis stood up slowly. "Thanks for the cases, I'll try to have them wrapped up by the time you get back."

"Thanks. I'll see you when I get back then." Mac said with a strained little smile. "And Sturgis?"

"Yeah?"

"I appreciate you warning me about Harm. I don't think I would have liked running into him during the investigation without knowing he was there."

An hour later Mac was back in her car on her way to the airport to catch the flight that would eventually lead her out to the carrier, and Harm. What the hell was he doing with a SEAL team? And what the hell did he have to do with the mission that went south? Was it his mission? Of course it was, it had to be, otherwise why would he be out there? As the questions rattled around her head Mac was becoming more and more agitated,and worried. Something had gone wrong with the mission and someone had died. Mac's whirling mind froze. The Admiral hadn't said who died on the mission, simply that a SEAL was dead. No, it wouldn't be him, it couldn't be him. She'd know, wouldn't she? She'd be able to feel if Harm was dead, she was certain of it.