Chapter 11
Harm's office
the same time
It had started. Harm thought as he looked up from the computer screen. The moment they left the Admiral's office they had begun working on putting their plan into play. It was simple enough, but the risk to both of their lives and that of their unborn child was great. Was it worth it? He knew that if they did nothing, Lt. Johnson was still likely to come after them in on way or another. But still... Risking his own life had never been the problem. Not even thinking about what implications it might have on Mac's was something he had thought much about. It was the baby. His and Sarah's baby. Before it had only been their own lives on the line, but now they had an involuntary passenger along for the ride, and it was something they had not planned for. Definitely something they wanted, but the timing sucked.
The thought of his wife and child brought his eyes back to the screen. The face in the picture starring back at him looked so determined. She knew what she had gotten herself into and she counted on him to get her out of it. God, he hoped he would. He read the note again. He would be at the address on time. He would get his wife back. It had started indeed...
A few hours later
Abandoned ware house
Harm pulled up outside the building a few minutes early. He looked at the door and took a deep breath. This was it. He needed to stay calm for her sake. He couldn't go inside while his heart was still pounding as if he had run a marathon. He leaned back against his seat and tried to focus. A few minutes later he stepped out of the car and started walking towards the building.
The same time
Mac was still sitting in the same chair as she had been doing for the last few hours, and her back was killing her. Her hands were tied together behind her back, placing her shoulders in a really awkward position. She had been trying to talk to Johnson the entire time, but had only gotten comments to shut up in reply. So now she was. She heard the door open and then she saw her husband walk towards them.
"Johnson!" she heard him calling.
Johnson turned towards the sound of his voice.
"Commander. How nice of you to join us. Say hello to your wife."
Harm glanced over at his wife. Stay calm. He thought to himself.
"I'm here. Now, what do you want?"
"Why, Commander Rabb. I would think that was kind of obvious. I want you to leave me alone. This had nothing to do with you, but you couldn't let it be. You had to put your nose where it didn't belong."
Harm glanced over at Mac. She was trying her best to get free. He had to keep Johnson's attention focussed on him.
"Why did you have to do it? You could have had a great career in the Navy without using these kinds of means."
"Could I Commander?" Her voice was reeking with sarcasm. "You're a man. You wouldn't understand what it is like to be a woman in a man's world. Always having to do everything better than everybody else, just to show them tat you belong there."Johnson was getting irritated. She started waving her gun around as she spoke. She was blocking his view so he couldn't see how Mac was doing with her bonds. He just had to take a chance and hope she would get loose before he had angered the Lt. too much.
"I know lots of women who have made it a long way without murdering anyone."
"I imagine you are thinking of your beloved wife." Johnson said as she involuntarily spun around to glance at the female marine in the chair behind her.
As she turned she noticed that the chair was empty. She could barely react before she felt something slam into her head and then everything went black. As she fell to the floor Harm rushed forward. He hadn't realized what was about to happen until he saw his wife swing the shovel and it hit Johnson.
"Hey, You..." He said in as calm a voice as he could muster.
"Hey yourself..." She said and smiled at him, a little out of breath.
"You took your time with those ropes. I didn't know how long I could keep her occupied..." he said as he pulled her close for a hug.
"You starting to lose your sweet talking abilities, Sailor. I thought those came with the uniform. But then again, you are getting old..." She teased him as she relaxed in his embrace.
"Old! Who's getting..." His reply was interrupted by a team of marines bursting in through the door, shortly followed by the Admiral. The both attorneys exchanged a look and smiled as both were thinking; 'on time as usual'.
A.J. approached them as he saw Johnson on the floor.
"The two of you OK?" he asked as they broke their embrace.
"Yes Sir." They answered in unison.
"Good. Then lets get out of here." he motioned for them to exit the building just as the marines moved up to apprehend Lt. Johnson who was now starting to regain consciousness.
They walked towards the exit and Harm and Mac's eyes met for a few moments. Their one look spoke a million words. They were safe. Their baby was safe, and now it was time to take care of business.
"Sir, there is something we'd like to talk to you about..." Harm started. "It has to do with those hospital visits you didn't want to make…"