…Till Death Does Us Part Chapter IV (The Conclusion) – Part 8/12
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
WARNING…again
The Angst-o-meter is still twitching. Please see our warning label in part 7 to fully understand the warning label.
Wednesday October 26
JAG HQ
Falls Church, Virginia
10:25 AM
Sturgis, Bud and the Admiral were just having a conference with a few congressmen and the SECNAV when suddenly the door of the conference room flew open. "Sir, there's a phone-call for you on line 1."
"Petty Officer Coates. I told you 'no interruptions'," Admiral Chegwidden informed her with a stern voice.
"I know, Sir," P.O. Coates answered nervously. "It's a phone-call from the Seahawk, Sir, and it's important."
As soon as AJ, Sturgis, and Bud heard the call was from the Seahawk they each had a fear look on their faces. They all knew it was the carrier Mac would be on today.
The Admiral took a deep breath before picking up the phone. "Admiral Chegwidden," he said and then listened to what the caller had to say.
Sturgis, Bud, the congressmen, the SECNAV, and Coates watched him and watched as the color drain from the Admiral's face. "Understood, Captain. Keep me informed," he said before ending the call.
AJ closed his eyes for a moment and took another deep breath before looking at his team, the SECNAV and the congressmen. "Gentlemen, if you would excuse me. I just got some news that I have to forward immediately."
"No problem, Admiral," the SECNAV replied immediately. "I think we should postpone the conference and come together again tomorrow," he suggested. The look on AJ's face showed him that something serious had just happen and that continuing this meeting was impossible for now.
"Thank you, Sir," the Admiral said before making his way out of the conference room.
Meanwhile in Harm's office
Harm had problems to concentrate on anything today. He simply couldn't keep his eyes from a picture of Mac with their son in her lap. They were both laughing about a face Harm had made when he took the photo.
"Harm?" A voice from his doorway interrupted his thoughts.
When Harm looked up he could see his former CO standing in his doorway. "Admiral, now this is a surprise. To what do I own this…," Harm started to ask when he saw the dejected face of his friend. "… pleasure? What is wrong, Sir?"
AJ gently closed the door behind him before taking a seat in one of Harm's visitor chairs. Bending a little forward he crossed his fingers together before looking at Harm. "I just got a call from the Seahawk, Harm," AJ tenderly started to explain.
"No," Harm only whispered, fearing the worst.
"The helicopter that was bringing Mac to the Seahawk was shot down. The SAR found the wreckage and reported one dead body and one causality."
"Mac?" Harm wanted to know and interrupted his friend's explanation.
"The report says the causality was identified as the pilot Lt. Andrews and the dead body was identified as the co-pilot Lt. Sawyer. No traces of Mac have been found yet."
"Oh my god," Harm whispered and looked again at the picture of his wife and son. "Will they continue the search?"
"Yes, they will. However, soon it will be too dark and too dangerous for the SAR. If she's not found by the time they stop the search for the night, they will continue the search tomorrow morning at first light."
Harm only nodded, he couldn't find the words to express his feelings. Shock and terror were settling in his thoughts.
"Harm, you should go home. Get your son and go home. Captain Johnson will keep me updated and I'll let you know as soon as I hear more, okay?"
"Yes, Sir."
AJ got up from his chair and made his way to the office door. "Everything will be okay, Harm. She's a fighter and has something at home to fight for."
"Yes, she is and she has," Harm only answered before the Admiral left him alone again.
In one swift motion Harm got up from his chair and started to pack his briefcase. He wanted to get out of his office and out of the building. He simply wanted to get his son and go home, where he would wait for the love of his life. 'She's okay,' he told himself. 'I would know it, if she were gone. I simply would know it.'
Meanwhile near the crash area
Somewhere south-west of Kandahar, Afghanistan
10:10 PM (local time)
As soon as Clay had heard about the crash and that Mac was missing, he knew he had to be there to help the search.
He requested a seat on one of the SAR helicopters and got permission without a single problem, since every available pair of eyes was needed to help, especially since time was against the rescue. It was already dark and nobody was sure that Mac could survive the cold of the night if she was seriously hurt. The other problem with the time was from the insurgents which occupied the area.
"Mr. Webb, we got orders to call it a night. It's too dark," the pilot from Clay's SAR helicopters called from behind as they both walked across a large are.
"Just a few more minutes, Lieutenant," Clay answered with a stern voice. He wouldn't give up. 'Not yet. I still can see my hand before my eyes,' he told himself forcing the light of his flashlight to cut through the darkness which surrounded them.
"No, sir. I'm sorry. But the order was to leave the crash area immediately." The young pilot turned his flashlight towards Clay to try to stop the agent from moving further away.
"Damn it," Clay muttered to himself and slowly made his way back to the helicopter. "I'll be back, Sarah. Keep fighting, girl. Your boys need you," he said aloud, trying to let the wind transport his words to her.
"Sir, I'm really sorry about this. I know she's a friend of yours. But I do have…," the pilot started to apologize before he was interrupted from Webb, who stopped dead in his tracks.
"Shut up, Lieutenant," Clay ordered, he turned around and shinned his light towards the darkness which surrounded them.
"Sir, I'm…"
"I said shut up, Lieutenant," Clay once more sternly ordered before he slowly moved to a nearby rock. "I swear I just heard something," he explained in a whisper, trying to hear the noise again.
"Sir, please…," the pilot once more started before Webb stopped and raised his forefinger.
"There, did you here that?" He wanted to know and before the pilot could answer him the noise could be heard once more. This time it was much louder and clearer.
"It sounds like a groan, Sir," the pilot concluded before he and Webb started to run towards the direction the noise was coming from.
Harm and Mac's House
McLean, Virginia
2:32 PM
It was harder and harder for Harm to keep his sanity. He felt so helpless and was going stir crazy. Ty had asked again and again when his mommy would be home, and Harm could barely keep his tears in check.
He didn't want to give up hope. He couldn't afford to give up hope. He was sure he would feel it if Mac would have been gone. But he couldn't feel the loss.
For quite some time now he was looking at a picture of Mac, mesmerized from the high spirit he could see in her laughing eyes. Over and over he touched her face with his fingers, trying to feel her soft skin underneath them. He wanted her to be home. He wanted to hold her and to never let her go again.
"Daddy?" Ty's voice brought him out of his thoughts. When he looked at his son he could see Ty holding his 'Quack Along Ducks' in front of him, showing his daddy that he wanted to play.
Since they got home they had played with Ty's toys and only once had they stopped to have a snack. Harm was physically staying close to the phone and took the cordless phone with him as soon as he left the living room for a short while.
"Yes, Buddy. Let's play some more," Harm answered his son before ruffling Ty's hair.
"Ya," Ty squeaked and started to pull the 'Quack Along Ducks' behind him.
Harm was slowly walking behind him when suddenly the phone started to ring. In one swift motion he got back to the phone and picked it up. "Rabb."
End Part 8
