Title : The Return

Author : Jaggie 107

Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you.

Rating : G to PG-13 (Just in case!)

Summary : An alternative start to Adrift II when Harm is brought to the hospital.


Comments : I have had numerous encouraging reviews, thank you all. You are my inspiration to continue.

Airport Motel – Washington DC - earlier

Mac watched from the wheelchair while Mic finished packing some things into a holdall. In his hand he held two passports. His, and hers. Mac's eyes widened, but she couldn't speak. Mic grinned, but the effect was more like a scowl as his neck muscles were so tensed.

"See, Sarah. Everything's going as we planned for our honeymoon. I have the tickets, and our passports." Mic leaned in and kissed Mac on the lips, but she was unable to fight him off. Her hands were tied in front of her, and around her waist. It was becoming obvious what Mic had planned, and when he had given Mac two pills earlier she had been aware of the bitter taste, and the feeling that her body had become frozen. Drugged, she could only watch him prepare to leave. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of Harm.

There had to be a way out of this!

Mic glanced across at her at that moment, and saw the wetness on her cheeks. He came over to kneel down in front of her, a hand coming up to brush the tears away, catching the bruise at the side of her head where he had blindsided her earlier, causing her to wince in pain.

"Ah, don't cry, Sarah. You'll be happy in Australia, you know you will. You loved it when you were there before, and when we have kids, it'll be great. You'll be too busy then to worry about your old life here."

Mac couldn't even close her eyes against her pain – she wanted to keep her eyes open so that she could work out a way to get out of this situation. There would be a chance. If only Harm knew where she was! But by now Renee would have convinced him otherwise. Mic had told Mac of the plan they had hatched together, and he had also told her that Renee believed that she and Mic were going to be together in Los Angeles. Mic had laughed at those words, adding his own to them.

"That silly bitch believed me! As if! I wouldn't touch her sort with a barge pole, but she doesn't need to know that. Of course, once you and I are gone, she'll have Harm to console her, so we both win in the end."

Mac had groaned in her mind, knowing her body was unresponsive. Whatever Mic had given her, it was a strong drug. Her eyes closed and she had slept again.

Now Mac was suddenly aware of something she had missed. Whereas before Mic had obviously drugged her through liquid, this time he had used pills. It would have been easier for him to use the liquid again, but that obviously knocked her out totally, and this time he needed her awake, if not moving. Maybe the effect of the pills would wear off sooner rather than later! Mac closed her eyes on that thought, and felt a sudden resolve that she could get out of the whole sordid situation. If she could attract attention at the airport, from anyone, she could at least get away from Mic, if not get directly to Harm.

When she opened her eyes again, Mic was standing over her.

"All packed. Let's go, darling."

Outside the Airport Motel – Washington DC – later

"There's the Commander's SUV," Tiner pointed out, and Bud nodded. Turning back to the receptionist on duty he asked about Harm's vehicle.

"Oh, some Aussie guy came in with it last night. Said it was a rental and the company would be by to collect it today."

"Did he check out yet?"

"Yeah. Did a pre-paid checkout, and I saw them leaving in a cab earlier."

"Do you know where they were going? Or the name of the cab company?"

"It was a special minivan, I know that, because of his wife. She's in a wheelchair." Bud and Tiner looked at each other in surprise, and then back to the receptionist. "I don't have the cab name, but I do know they're going to the airport."

"Thanks. We have the information already. Do you have the keys to the SUV?"

"No, but he said he'd left it for the rental company, so maybe they're on the vehicle somewhere? We already checked the room."

"Thanks again." Bud preceded Tiner out of the office and walked along to where Harm's SUV was parked. "Tiner, try to find the keys and if you do, take the SUV back to JAG. Otherwise, order a tow and take it to his place. I'll go on to the airport, and see if I can find Mic there."

"Yes, sir. Will you let me know, if you find the Colonel?"

"We'll find her, Tiner, and yes, I'll let you know."

"Thank you, sir."

Tiner watched as Bud walked away to their motor pool vehicle, and then he began looking around the SUV for possible hiding places for the keys. Having looked in the most obvious places, Tiner paused and recalled a friend of his who used to hide his keys up the tailpipe of his vehicle. Maybe… Tiner returned to the office and asked for a wire coat hanger. With a grin at the look of amazement on the receptionist's face, he walked back to the SUV, bent the wire and pushed the hook up into the tailpipe. Within seconds he felt something and pulled back gently on the wire. Wrapped in foil, the keys came back down the pipe and dropped on the ground. Tiner ripped open the foil and removed the keys. Aside from the pleasure at having his hunch proved right, Tiner had always wanted to know what it would be like driving Harm's SUV!

Dulles International Airport

Bud walked into the Departures entrance at the same time as Mac had taken the opportunity to raise the alarm. Throughout the journey to the airport she had been able to feel her body's movements returning, but she had managed to keep Mic from discovering that fact also by pretending to sleep. Although the pills he had given her wouldn't render her unconscious, he wasn't unduly disturbed by her closing her eyes. He knew he could wake her up, as though she had been napping, and no-one would be suspicious, so he had left her in peace.

Once they were at the airport, Mic had wheeled Mac's chair across to the Qantas desk and began the check-in procedure. From a distance Chegwidden had spotted Mic checking in. Harm had found Mac's slumped form in the wheelchair and was about to go over to her when the Admiral stopped him.

"But sir," he protested, and Chegwidden stared hard at him.

"Not yet, Harm. We need to let him check in first, then we can get a fix on him. If he runs now, we'll have no chance. There are too many people around, and you're not up to full fitness. In all of this, Mac could get hurt too."

That stopped Harm in his tracks, and he relented, nodding.

Neither of them saw Mac make her move, but as Mic was leaning over the counter, flirting with the ground staff, she managed to trip a passing security guard. With her hands tied under the blanket she had no means of reaching out. The man got to his feet at the same time as Mic turned around, and became aware of the situation.

"Sorry, mate. My fault. I didn't fasten the leg straps this morning."

"You should be more careful, sir. It could have been an elderly person, or a child passing."

Mac's voice hadn't been used for almost a day, and her throat was dry as she tried to speak. It was enough to attract the man's attention, and he turned back.

"Ma'am?"

"Help…please…"

"She's babbling. You know," Mic tapped the side of his head, and grinned, hoping to deflect attention. The guard looked at Mic, and then back at Mac, and saw the clarity in her eyes.

"Sir…" he began, addressing Mic, but at that moment Bud stepped up. Both Chegwidden and Harm heard his voice as he called out in apparent surprise.

"Commander Brumby, sir! Colonel! Oh, what happened, ma'am? Did you fall?" Bud did what Bud did best. Created chaos. Harm managed a faint grin, and even Chegwidden smiled at the inventiveness of his younger officer. At least he thought it inventiveness. With Bud he could never be sure.

Mac's eyes watered immediately, the relief on her face was obvious, and Bud leaned over to pat her shoulder. Although he didn't voice his words, Mac could read them clearly. I know. Nodding her head, she looked behind Bud at Mic. His expression was dark.

"Sir, do you know these people?" The security guard was puzzled by the turn of events and his confusion showed as he spoke to Bud.

"Yes, of course. I work with them both, at JAG."

"JAG?"

"Yes, Colonel Mackenzie's a lawyer there. Commander Brumby, or rather…he's in the Australian Navy, he…" Bud began to ramble, and fell silent altogether when he heard a familiar voice.

"I'm Admiral Chegwidden, these people work for me," Chegwidden indicated Mac and Bud, and Harm behind him, and then continued. "I'd like you to have the airport police come over. I want this man arrested for kidnapping, and whatever other charges I can bring against him."

The security guard didn't need a second order. He called in the nearest police detail to come to their location, and then turned his attention back to the tableau in front of him.

Chegwidden and Bud had Mic held tight by either arm, and despite his struggles they held firm. Harm was kneeling on the floor in front of Mac's wheelchair, and he was unfastening the ropes that Mic had tied her with. Once her hands were freed she lifted her arms immediately, despite them aching from restraint, and put them around Harm. There was no-one for the two of them but themselves, and both Bud and the Admiral shared a smile at the insularity of the two senior officers.

"I thought I'd lost you…" they both said together, and then no more words were necessary, at least for the time being. Becoming aware of their surroundings, Harm got to his feet, and managed to hold Mac up with him. As they both wobbled a little, however, Chegwidden requested chairs for them, until Mic could be taken care of.

As he was being taken away by the airport police, Mic called over his shoulder, and Mac shuddered at his voice.

"You'll never get away from me, Sarah. I'll always find you. You're mine!"

Harm hugged her once more, and she buried her face in his neck. The voice of their commanding officer brought them both to a semblance of attention, even though they remained seated.

"Now, I suggest we make a trip back to the hospital for you both, to get Mac checked out, and to give you a chance to rest a little, Harm." Chegwidden was surprised by the lack of protest from either officer, but continued to speak, his eyes taking in the bruise on Mac's face, and her pale color. "Mac, I'm not sure what happened while you were with Brumby, but if you're okay with me answering for you at the hospital, I need to ask you a personal question."

"Sir, I think I know what you're asking, and no…I don't think he…touched…me, but I couldn't be totally sure. He…he kept me drugged much of the time. This afternoon he gave me some pills, instead. I think he wanted me to be conscious, but used something that restricted movement and speech, so I wouldn't raise too much attention."

"I understand, and I'll ensure that you are treated as carefully as possible."

"Thank you, sir."

Harm reached out and Mac took hold of his hand once more. This was something he hadn't anticipated. That Brumby would have forced himself on Mac.

They both waited in silence while Bud was dispatched to bring the Admiral's SUV to the entrance of the Departures terminal. Even in the vehicle on the way to the hospital, neither one of them spoke, but there was plenty going on in their minds.


TBC