Title: Reaching Out – Chapter 7
Author: Arian
Rating: PG-13

Disclaimers: Surprise, between last chapter and this one I bought JAG. Surprise! Oh sorry, I apparently went insane there for a second. Damn, I was about to let the shippers start writing the new season. Oh, and I don't own NCIS either, just borrowed their characters to abuse.

A/N: Again the locations are real. There is a curve in the Potomac River near the interchange that has an inlet a body could easily come to rest in. I looked for river current maps, but alas could not find any. Remember, life is in the details :)

A/N2: Thanks to Mia and Faith for the encouragement on a daily basis. Thank you also to Maria, Mari, Little Eirtae, guitarvixen, lumosgirl03, SarahRabb705, maidenpride21, zoomie, aserene, Navy Babe (hope you like the crossover), and froggy0319 (yay! I'm an alert now!)

October 29th, 2004
I295/I95 Interchange
Near Oxon Hill Farm
2243 EST

"We really need to stop meeting under these circumstances Agent McGee." Mac gave a slow smile to the flustered agent.

"Yes ma'am, you're right, we do. Absolutely." He kept checking over his shoulder in a nervous manner. She began to wonder what had the man so unsettled, and tried to hide her grin at his discomfort behind a cough.

"You may want to take something for that cough." Somehow the voice that made the comment was able to turn something completely innocuous into a pickup line. Mac turned to see a handsome young man grinning at her like she was his next meal. He held out his hand to her.

"Agent Tony DiNozzo. Ms...?" While he seemed nice enough, he was also incredibly cocky.

"Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie." She thought she remembered him from Harm's investigation, and she ignored the offered hand and turned back to Agent McGee, giving DiNozzo a cold shoulder that could give an iceberg a run for its money. She could see a sparkle come to McGee's eye, and inside was laughing her ass off. "Agent McGee, I assume there is new information and you didn't just call for a date tonight?"

McGee bit his lip to keep from laughing. "Yes ma'am. We were called down here a few hours ago, seems that a local fisherman was hip wading in the reeds around the inlet and caught something a little bigger than he was ready to handle." He waved an arm towards a waiting van. There was a body bag lying on a gurney near the back end, and as they walked over Mac realized she was colder than hell. This could be it. The woman from her dreams, the one to start this crazy search, and possibly the very first victim, could be behind that zipper.

Suddenly she felt a very warm hand on her back and her apprehension melted away. She didn't even have to turn to know that Harm was walking behind her. He had gone to park the car after dropping her off and in all probability had seen her interaction with DiNozzo. She couldn't feel any possessiveness in his touch however, only support.

Out of the corner of his eye Harm could see Agent Todd on an intercept path with them. Quickly judging time and speed he put a little pressure on Mac's back to hurry her toward the van. They ended up reaching the gurney at exactly the same moment as the female agent.

"Commander, Colonel. I see you've already heard about our latest victim." She glared at a bewildered McGee. This was not going to be good. Beyond the pair of naval lawyers she saw DiNozzo making his way over with one of his self satisfied grins. This was definitely not going to be good.

"Agent McGee called me a little while ago. I'm assuming it's the same M.O., being that we're quite a way from the location of the other murders?" Mac's fingers itched to yank down the closure to the bag, but held back due to the quickly escalating situation. She didn't understand Agent Todd's sudden chilly attitude after including them in the rest of the investigation. She felt a brushing motion on her arm and Agent DiNozzo slipped past her.

"Well if you mean did she take a ride on the Ripper express, then yup, same M.O." Tony didn't like being embarrassed in front of McGee, and while he wasn't usually vindictive, it was a weird sort of night. He yanked the zipped on the body bag down and flipped the edges aside.

Mac drew in a quick breath and then barely met Harm's eyes. It was her. Her long dark hair was tangled with leaves and other muck from the river, and her pale skin was almost transparent. Her features were more bloated than what she remembered from her sightings of her, but long exposure to the water of the river would explain that. Mac finally focused on the bloodless gash across the young woman's throat, and quickly determined it had the same attributes as those of the other women. Harm heard her sigh, and moved his hand ever so slightly against the back of her coat.

DiNozzo caught the movement and for some reason it lit a fire under him. He wasn't one to get jealous over another man having a beautiful woman, but that little show she had put on in front of McGee just burned him. Gibbs had been riding his ass all day about this case, and now the two shining stars of the Navy JAG showed up to save the day. He quickly remembered something from Rabb's case file and before he could stop it the thought was out of his mouth.

"Killed the same way that girlfriend of yours was, huh Rabb?"

Mac's gaze immediately flew to Harm's face. How could she have forgotten that Diane had been killed in a very similar manner? She mentally smacked herself on the forehead.

Kate could not believe DiNozzo had said something like that. She had no idea if it was true, but the way the color drained out of the Commander's face made her think it was. That was as far as her reaction got before doom descended on them all.

"Don't you think we've embarrassed ourselves enough where the Commander is concerned DiNozzo?" Agent Gibbs had been slowly approaching the group, trying to assess who was responsible for JAG getting involved. He had a bad feeling McGee had made a rookie mistake, and he'd learn later. For now Tony was a much better target for his anger.

"Uh, uhm, sure boss."

"I thought maybe. Why don't you go down to the river and start sifting through the mud, see if you can catch anything." Gibbs was not happy that Rabb and his partner were there, not at all. But DiNozzo's big mouth had once again created an impossible situation, and maybe playing in the mud at the cold end of October would remind the agent of his place in the food chain. "Commander, Colonel. Can I ask why you are at my crime scene?"

Harm quickly focused on the man who had put him behind bars. The roaring in his ears that started with DiNozzo's comment slowly faded, but his blood pressure had to be up to a dangerous level. In a very flat tone he answered the veteran agent. "We have been involved in the case from almost the beginning Gibbs. It's more of a courtesy call than anything else. This may be coming up to us if the killer turns out to be military. Or if you just assume he is and send him our way anyway."

Kate and Mac immediately jumped into the conversation to avoid an all out war.

"Gibbs."

"Harm."

Gibbs cut them both off. "Rabb, I don't like you. I'm not going to pretend that I do. And nothing about this case has anything to do with yours. So what the hell are you doing here poking around?" Something about Rabb just got under his skin and twitched.

Harm narrowed his eyes, and then realized Mac's hand was on his arm. It had probably been there all along, but he only now noticed it. And it immediately reminded him to take a deep breath. That's what she did; kept him balanced. "We are close to the first victim's friend, and since then have been brought in periodically to be updated on the case. You seem to have a serial murderer on your hands, and any resources we can lend could make the difference."

Gibbs huffed. He looked at Kate and got a set of raised eyebrows in response. He set his jaw, but realized that the Navy man was right. "Fine. Todd, McGee, finish up here and meet me back at headquarters. There is a lot of evidence to sort through, so I hope you kept your calendars open." With a nod at Harm and Mac he turned on his heel and strode away with his hands in his pockets.

Kate let out a very pent up breath before soundly smacking McGee on the back of the head. "See?" She then glanced apologetically at Harm. "As you can see, everything is the same as the other bodies. We have a feeling the evidence on the body will link it back toward Potomac Park, but can't make any conclusions until after our medical examiner does his work." She noticed the Colonel gazing sadly at the victim. "Do you recognize her?"

Mac looked up suddenly. "No. She's just so young. Do you have any idea who she is?"

"Not yet. No purse, dog tags, nothing. We'll find it though. I'll let you know when I hear something." With that she returned her gaze to McGee. "Well McGee, it seems you and I have a date with a very large filing system."

"Hey, at least it's better than sifting through river muck." McGee grinned, still thoroughly enjoying the fact that DiNozzo had been schooled. He thought he saw a quick smile slip out of the Colonel, but at a second glance she was once again all professional. "We'll be in touch."

"Thank you." With one final look at the woman on the gurney, Mac turned to Harm and raised her eyebrows. He was still staring in the direction Gibbs had gone, but at her nudge started walking toward where he parked the SUV.

The silence was driving Mac nuts. The wind made the shadows on the ground dance, and it howled through the tops of the trees. "Harm?"

"Yeah."

"You ok?"

"Sure."

"Want to talk?"

Harm sighed. He probably should. But where the hell to start? "It did come to mind that they were being murdered like her. But I put that to rest a long time ago." He remembered vividly the night that Diane's killer had died in the gap between a ship and the dock. He also remembered the kiss that had started in the past and ended in the future. "I didn't expect to see Gibbs down here, but oh well." He chuckled softly. "I guess it went as well as it could have. What the hell did you say to DiNozzo that got to him like that?"

Mac smiled, glad he was really ok. "I didn't say anything. I just ignored his existence."

Harm laughed out loud. "Ouch! That is sooo much worse. At least when I get yelled at you're paying attention to me." He jumped as she hit him on the arm playfully.

Reaching the Lexus they got in and started the drive north to Washington. Mac was very quite in the passenger seat, and when he looked over she was staring out the window. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Mac sighed. "I was wondering if it's over. If we're done seeing them because she's been found. Part of me really hopes so."

Harm knew there was more to her thinking that just that. "But?"

"Part of me knows this person is still out there. He could hurting someone right now."

"Mac, there's nothing we can do right now. NCIS has to do their thing and put the pieces together." He was just as frustrated as she was, but it was late and short of patrolling the entire park area they couldn't stop another murder from happening. "It's time to get you home; we have a very busy night tomorrow, in case you forgot."

Mac finally smiled. "How could I forget? And you're right, I'm beat. Take me home, James." She said in her best snotty aristocrat voice.

"Yes ma'am."

October 30th
NCIS Headquarters
1352 EST

Harm took a deep breath before entering the lion's den. He absolutely did not want to be here, and definitely did not want to do this alone. However, after the week they had Mac had decided to go to a spa for the afternoon to work out some of her stress before meeting Creswell that night. He had completely agreed with the idea; it would be good for her. It unfortunately meant that when he had gotten the call from Agent Todd that morning he couldn't call her cell phone, and so arrived at NCIS headquarters without his partner.

After inquiring at the front desk he was led into a room lit only by gooseneck lamps set up around a large map of the Capitol district. Agent Todd was sitting in a chair sorting through several large files, and there were evidence bags scattered throughout the room. He assumed there was a method to the madness, but it wasn't immediately apparent to him.

"Commander, glad you could join me." The young woman looked incredibly worn out, but still completely professional. "We still have no idea who is doing this, and I kind of hoped a fresh pair of eyes could see something I can't. I realize it's highly unusual, but as you already know the case Gibbs let me call you in."

"What do you have Agent Todd?" He wandered around the table the map was displayed on. Several red markers were placed in the Potomac Park area.

"The markers indicate the murder sites. Evidence on Lt. Darcy Lee's body led us to check the waterfront along this area." She indicated a stretch of the park near the river. "We found her purse, tags, and cover in this area, along with blood evidence on the railing between the sidewalk and the river."

"Darcy Lee." He sighed. "He killed her and dumped her body. When?"

Kate tapped the marker on the green section of the map. "Four days ago. She was the first." She then drew her fingers across to the other murder sites. "In Potomac Park, nearby in an alley, and finally near 19th and G. Same weapon, same M.O. And we have no idea who he is. He hadn't left any evidence other than one footprint." She slammed her hands down on the table in frustration. She hadn't gotten any sleep the night before and her nerves were frayed. "This sick sonofabitch grabs them, drags them into the darkness, makes sure that they can see the way out, and then slaughters them!" She was so caught up in her emotions she hadn't noticed Harm make his way completely around the table, examining the map.

"The murders keep moving northeast. Does that mean something?" He was puzzled by the pattern on the map in front of him. It was very unusual to find a completely clean murder scene, let alone three of them.

"It could. Could mean the first one was close to home or work, but he's had to move farther out to find Navy victims each time. Could also mean he went the distance with Darcy but has been getting lazy and not going as far. Could mean nothing at all and he's just random but it looks like a pattern at the moment." Kate focused on the map for a moment, and then moved over to one of the evidence cabinets. "This is the type of knife we believe is being used."

Harm took the offered weapon and tilted it in his hand. It was a sick looking weapon, made for war. He furrowed his brow, and then sat down in one of the chairs around the room. "Can I see the other evidence?"

After several hours, Harm scrubbed his hands over his face. 'At least NCIS should feel good that I can't figure it out either.' There was a pattern to the murders, including the weapon used, and the boot tread from the second scene again pointed to a military man being the killer. But nothing in the victims' backgrounds connected them in any way. Unless the killer made a mistake, or new evidence came to light, they had nothing.

"Sorry for wasting your Saturday Commander. I just didn't want to admit we have to wait for the next crime scene to get more evidence." Kate propped her head up on one hand.

He sighed. "Me either. But I guess there's not much of a choice. I have somewhere to be tonight, so I should probably head home to get ready. Please let me know immediately if anything comes up." Harm shook her hand, and then started home. The entire case bothered the hell out of him. The chances were so incredibly high that another woman would be murdered, or already had been. His nightmares the night before had put Mattie on a cold slab in a morgue with her eyes staring at him. It hadn't had the same level of impending reality the other dream did, but he didn't deal well with feelings of helplessness.

At least he could now look forward to the evening. Just thinking about finally stepping out of character for a night made him smile. He wondered what everyone else would dress as, what Mac's costume would look like. With that thought firmly in mind he raced home to prepare for the night ahead.

TBC

A/N2: Sorry this one doesn't give everyone the costume surprise they've been clamoring for, but the story writes itself. If I raced right to the party and ignored the legal plot it wouldn't be any where nearly as intriguing. I promise it will be worth the wait. Next chapter even...excited grin

Next Chapter, on JAG...

"Aren't you going to say 'trick or treat'?" she asked in a soft voice. His gaze flew to her face, which was framed by a deep black hood. He couldn't see a single part of her costume, but her cheeks were flushed with excitement and her smile was a mile wide.

"I think I'd much rather have the treat." His voice melted her nerve endings. When she had opened the door the sight of him had made her catch her breath. He was absolutely the sexiest man she had ever seen.

Mac gave Harm a look that clearly said 'get over it' and turned back to the group which had just grown to include Jennifer dressed in a deep blue Renaissance-style dress. Everyone chatted for a while, purposefully avoiding the subject of their new CO. Sturgis returned after a time with a waiter carrying a tray of alcohol free punch for the ladies and bourbons for the gentlemen. Raising his glass to Harm in particular, he simply said "to letting someone else run the show," to which everyone heartily clinked their glasses.

Turning about the dance floor, the song ended and after applauding they turned back toward their table. It was getting late, closer to the witching hour than anyone wanted to admit, and Harm made his way toward the entrance to collect their capes. Just as he handed their tickets to the attendant, he felt a familiar chill run up his spine.