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.

Bethesda Naval Hospital – ER Department

"Commander Rabb, I didn't expect to see you back here so soon. Accident prone?"

"Not exactly." Harm shook hands with the doctor who had recently discharged him. "I'm here with Colonel Mackenzie. Our commanding officer, Admiral Chegwidden, is in with her doctor right now."

"Oh? What happened?"

"The Colonel was abducted earlier today, and we've just found her at the airport. The Admiral wanted her to be looked over as she has been drugged during the day, and for any…thing else that may be necessary to check." Harm faltered on the words, and the doctor nodded his head, aware of what he was trying avoid talking about.

"I'll pop my head in, see if there's anything I can do. Do I need to have you checked over?" The man spoke again but Harm shook his head, managing a smile.

"All I need is rest, but I'm not going to do that until I know the Colonel is going to be okay."

"That's an easy remedy. I can order you both to rest, and if you happen to do it together, I'm sure you'll both make a speedy recovery."

"Thanks, doctor."

"I'll be right back."

Harm couldn't relax enough to settle down to wait, but he wasn't stable enough to pace the corridor, so he perched on the edge of the seat, watching for the door to the examination room to open. When it did he got to his feet. Mac and the Admiral came toward him, and Mac went into his arms without a word. Harm looked over her head at Chegwidden.

"Sir?"

"It's okay. Mic didn't do anything other than drug her. It'll take a couple of days for the whole cocktail to work through her system, but it's not been long enough to be addictive. Right now I'm going to have Bud take you back to your apartment, together, and I want you to stay there until I say otherwise." Harm opened his mouth to protest, but Chegwidden raised his hand. "Do I make myself clear, Commander?"

"Yes, sir. What about Brumby?"

"Brumby is currently being held by us, but he has retained counsel and is being represented through the Australian Embassy here. Right now we don't know how long we can hold him. Due to the fact that he merely reserved his commission and didn't resign, he has been reinstated and may face charges in Sydney instead of here."

"How can they reinstate a criminal?"

"The alleged crime happened outside of the Australian territories, so he is entitled to return home."

"Will he face charges? More to the point, will Mac have to travel out there?"

Chegwidden nodded his head, and Harm scowled.

"Mac is the prosecution's star witness, Harm. Without her, there will be absolutely no charges brought against him. It's our job to ensure that there are charges."

"Oh, I can promise you there will be. I have another witness for the prosecution. Renee." Mac raised her head and spoke softly, but firmly.

"From what I could gather, she's in love with him." Chegwidden's gaze settled on Mac. He couldn't determine who was holding onto whom, but neither relinquished their hold, even under his close scrutiny.

"Not exactly. They've spent a lot of time together when Harm and I have been on cases. Mic wanted me, Renee wanted Harm. They planned it so that Mic and I would go to Australia, and that would leave the field open for Renee to get Harm. What they didn't count on was Harm and I declaring our love for each other." Mac spoke up again, and from where she was held close against him, Harm pulled back a little to look at her face, and saw the grim determination in her gaze. "I couldn't move, but I could hear. Every word. Renee might not believe you or I, if we try to tell her about Mic, but she'll have to believe him! If you can get him to an interview room before the Australians claim him, I can talk to him."

"If you talk to him, we lose our case," Harm pointed out, and Mac nodded.

"The case may be compromised anyway, because of my prior relationship to Mic. You lose me as the main witness, but I'm sure Renee will be happy to step up to the mound for us when she hears what he has to say about her."

"I don't want you in there alone with him!" Harm's words came out in a harsh whisper, and Mac held him tighter.

"I'm not going to be alone, Harm. The Admiral will go in with me. You just need to have Renee watching."

Harm nodded his head, and Chegwidden gave them both a smile. "Let's go do this, people." At that moment, Bud had driven up in the Admiral's SUV, and as he got out to help Mac and Harm into the vehicle, he informed them that he had called Tiner.

"Is he back at JAG?" asked Chegwidden, taking the front passenger seat, as Bud climbed back into the driver's seat.

"Yes, sir. He found the keys to your SUV, Commander, and drove it there."

"I'll thank him when I see him," Harm confirmed, and then tried to hide a yawn. Unsuccessfully.

"Commander, try to sleep a little. We've got enough time for you to catnap. I'll be sure to wake you before we go through the security post."

"Thank you, sir," Harm laughed, and Mac laid her head on his shoulder. It was a move that gave comfort to her, and provided a pillow for his head. They had slept this way before, traveling to and from Russia, and Chegwidden was amused at how easily, and how quickly, they both relaxed into sleep.

Bud glanced at them also, through the rear-view mirror. A small grin tilted his lips. Harriet would love to see this, he thought.

JAG Headquarters – Admiral's Office

"He said what?" Renee's voice could be heard clearly in the bullpen, despite the closed, heavy wooden doors. "I don't believe you!" The screeching had gone, but Renee's voice was still loud enough to be heard.

"It's true." Harm stood in front of Renee, the Admiral to his side. Mac was in her office, with Harriet and Bud in attendance. It was her own decision, believing that Renee would not react favorably to her presence. Harm had agreed, but reluctantly, and Mac had grinned as she pushed him out of her office.

"Can I see him?" Renee asked, solving the problem of getting her to the Brig, and Chegwidden nodded.

"I'll have Tiner drive you and Harm over there, with Bud."

"You don't trust me, Admiral?"

"Not in the least, Renee."

"Harm?" Renee turned her gaze on the man who was now further than ever out of her reach. Harm remained silent, his eyes giving away nothing, which for Renee was frustrating. Before, she had always been able to judge his mood from the changing colors in his eyes. Now they were simply icy. With a shake of her head, she preceded Harm out of the office, and Bud came across the bullpen toward them. From her office, Mac could see the small party head to the elevators. Harm raised his head and caught her gaze, and smiled in return. As he disappeared through the doors after Bud and Renee, the Admiral came out of his office and walked across to Mac.

"Ready, Colonel?"

"Yes, sir."

Interview Room - The Brig

Mic was being held under US authority still, but now he sat next to his Embassy-appointed lawyer, Larry Kaplinsky. Mic's former employer. While he and Mic had parted under strained circumstances, the man was not averse to defending a client through whom he saw financial gain. With the Australian Embassy aware ofMic's brief stint in Kaplinsky's private law firm, they had contacted the man immediately. In the small, darkened room next door, Harm stood behind and to the side of Renee watching her face as she watched Mic. The Marine guard on duty stepped aside as Chegwidden entered the room, and behind him came Mac. Renee took a sharp breath, but Mic's reaction was explosive.

"Sarah! You came! I knew you wouldn't…"

"Counselor, get your client under control, or I will have him restrained! Colonel Mackenzie is here to ask some questions of her own, to which she is entitled to receive truthful answers."

"By being here, she forfeits her right to appear for the prosecution." Kaplinsky felt he had scored a hit with highlighting Mac's apparent error.

"The Colonel is aware of her rights, Counselor, and waives them freely. In the circumstances, she feels she can still have justice in the case against Mr Brumby."

"Commander Brumby is unlikely to face court martial, Admiral Chegwidden."

"Don't be too sure, Counselor. Colonel Mackenzie isn't the prosecution's only witness."

At that comment Mic shot up in his seat again, and leaned across the table, staring at Mac.

"If you think Renee is going to stand up for you, Sarah, you're dead wrong!"

Mac stood her ground, and leaned in to face Mic's rage.


TBC