Sorry for the delay, vacation and a death in the family kept me from getting this up in a timely fashion. To all who posted feedback, thank you very much - it is appreciated.
Part 3
JAG HeadquartersFalls Church, VA
0830 LocalMac stared at her phone, debating with herself. She'd come in a little earlier than usual and pulled up the files on Tia and Vincent Mallory. Now she was beginning to think that she had deliberately tried to forget about the couple. It had been way too close to her own life and had started her on a useless round of 'what ifs'. Even as she found herself dwelling on such unwelcome memories, some small part of her wondered why it was affecting her so strongly. It wasn't like she hadn't handled these types of cases before. While she was more sensitive about them, she could usually distance herself enough to work. Ordinarily, she might have broached the subject with Harm. He'd always been good about pulling her off these destructive paths but this had happened when he was off with the CIA and still too angry to return any of her calls. She had sucked it up and moved on, adding it to the other burdens that were fraying her nerves at a glacial pace.Taking a deep breath, she picked up the phone and dialed the number from the card Special Agent Todd had left with her. After a couple of rings, she heard, "NCIS, Todd speaking."" Agent Todd, this is Col. MacKenzie. Those photographs you showed me, they were the Mallorys, weren't they?... Yes... yes, I do think we need to get together." She paused for a moment, reviewing her calendar, "How about 1430 today? I have court this morning. All right. Where? That's fine. I'll see you then." Mac hung up and sat back in her chair for a few moments. She was almost certain it hadn't been Tia who had killed Vincent Mallory. One could never tell but it just didn't feel right. It took either a lot of anger or a complete lack of emotions to shoot someone right between the eyes as Mallory had been. No matter how awful her father had been, she'd never contemplated killing him in cold blood. What she had done was run as fast and as far as she could. It had taken Joe MacKenzie on his deathbed and Harm's considerable powers of persuasion to get her back anywhere near the man.Uttering a soft groan, Mac leaned forward to put her face in her hands; goddammit, she was doing it again. This was not about her." Late night, last night?"Mac jerked her head up to see Sturgis standing in her doorway. They hadn't been on the best of terms lately - he'd been prickly and defensive and she'd been abrupt and short-tempered. Her problem had been Paraguay. Sturgis' problem had been Bobbie choosing her career over him. That had coincided with his inadequate counsel hearing that Bud had tanked. Being found wanting in both his personal and professional life had been a serious blow to his self esteem. Sturgis' answer had been to drive himself harder, as well as take a harder line with almost everything and everyone around him. While Mac could certainly understand zealousness, it was the uncharacteristic lack of any sort of compassion that surprised and annoyed her. His callous cross of the Recon Marine who couldn't kill a defenseless child had truly sparked her ire. He had destroyed the young man's confidence to the point where her client refused to contest the court martial. Deciding punishment had been a lose/lose situation. If she'd gotten the young Marine discharged, his failure, guilt and self-doubt would have probably followed him all his life. She kept him in knowing there was a good chance he'd wind up back in Iraq. She could only pray that he wouldn't get himself killed trying to redeem himself.She had told Sturgis that she thought his tactics cowardly and not long afterward, he'd called her a sanctimonious prig. That was where their relationship stayed. They maintained a professional attitude towards each other but that was about it. Now he was standing in her doorway. Was his question a true inquiry or just something he threw out to get her attention? She looked at him for another moment and then sighed, propping an elbow on her desk and resting her chin, "More like old memories. What can I do for you, Sturgis?"Sturgis frowned slightly. He now knew her well enough to know that if Mac was dwelling on old memories, chances were it wasn't anything good. He wasn't happy with the coolness in their friendship but he had mixed feelings about what to do. He had been angry with Mac on several levels (not the least of which was her treatment of Harm), but he was more angry with himself.
It seemed like his world had turned inside out. All his life, he felt he had to be perfect. He was studious, serious and played by the rules because that's what Chaplain Turner's son should do. When he'd first met Harm at the Academy, he hadn't been sure what to think about the tall, young man. Rabb was serious and completely focused on his goal of becoming an aviator and while Sturgis admired his drive, he could tell there was another, wilder side. He and Harm discovered that they shared a common family history of military service - it became one more stone in the foundation of their budding friendship. Before he knew it, Sturgis had found himself numbered among the tight little core of friends that surrounded Harmon Rabb, Jr.Harm had been a puzzle. Sturgis quickly discovered that his new friend had a deadly sense of humor and the wherewithal to pull off some amazing pranks. He wasn't the crazy, damn-the-consequences man that Jack Keeter was but he had managed his fair share of scrapes and he'd dragged Sturgis right along with him. Looking back, Sturgis could only shake his head at some of the antics that Harm talked him into. It had been a liberating experience for a minister's son. After graduation, they'd gone their separate ways. Harm and Keeter took to the air, Diane had put her analytical talents to good use by becoming a cryptologist and Sturgis headed for the deep blue.Life has a funny way of kicking you in the teeth at times. Who knew that years down the road, it would put he and Harm in the same designator of the service and ultimately in the same office? Had someone told him at the graduation ceremony that he and Rabb would wind up as lawyers and that Diane was slated for an untimely and brutal death, he would have disgraced his father by flattening the bearer of such a tale.He used to think that it was tough being a minister's only child, especially the son of the illustrious and well-respected Chaplain Turner. How unfair it seemed, to have had every action he took weighed against the high moral standards of his father. Not that Harm had had an easy time with his dad declared MIA but his behavior wasn't constantly compared to whatever his father might have or had done. If he'd had a nickel for every time he'd heard, "When your father was your age... " Sturgis figured he could have retired at an early age.Then he'd met Sarah MacKenzie. She bore an uncanny resemblance to Diane but appearance was the only thing they'd had in common... that and Harmon Rabb, Jr. He'd been surprised after first meeting her that Harm had insisted the two of them were only friends and colleagues. He hadn't been surprised when Harm had put his foot in his mouth with that crack about the Colonel's boyfriends. If they'd been kids, Harm would have been the one putting snakes in Mac's locker. It had taken him a while to get a clearer picture of the Marine Chief of Staff. If Harm was a puzzle, then Mac was an enigma.To call her stubborn would be like calling the sun hot and, at first, he had attributed her zealousness to typical overcompensation by a woman in a decidedly male world. Eventually, he realized it was closer to the truth to say that she had little patience or compassion for people who blamed everything but themselves for their own choice of actions; especially if those actions had led to injury or death of another. She'd taken a hard line with those idiotic dueling cadets until they had admitted what they had done had been childish and dangerous. It hadn't been until that debacle with Jacobs that he'd learned of her upbringing. It had shocked him that the elegantly beautiful Marine had had such a hellish childhood even as it explained her aggressive and occasionally belligerent attitude towards abuse cases.Every now and then, he'd ponder what he might have been like if he'd had the life that Sarah MacKenzie had had. Would he have survived and made something of himself as she had done? There were so many people in similar circumstances that had let life overwhelm them. Did he have that iron core deep inside that would have allowed him to triumph? He just didn't know and, on some level, it galled him. Mac had gone through the crucible at an early age and come out stronger for it. While he was not a man given to vacillation, he also wasn't going to delude himself. The only other person he knew who could match the steel-willed Colonel was Harmon Rabb.Sturgis gave himself a mental shake. Truthfully, what went on between Harm and Mac was none of his business - a fact that he kept reiterating to himself to, apparently, little avail. Just like his Academy days, Sturgis had found himself swept up in strong currents of Harm's life... He held up a file folder for Mac to see, "The Nebrino file you were looking for, Colonel."Mac nodded, holding out a hand, "Thank you." She kept a firm grip on her disappointment. So his inquiry had been merely a device to get her attention rather than a tentative offer to start reconstructing their friendship. She had made a few overtures herself and been rebuffed. Nothing cutting, Sturgis wasn't that kind of man, but more like his responses had stayed strictly on the professional level. She accepted the file and dropped it in the stack on her desk. Expecting him to leave, Mac was surprised to look up and find an uncertain looking Sturgis still standing there. Concern colored her tone as she gazed at the handsome submariner, "Sturgis, are you all right?"He smiled a trifle sheepishly, "I was about to ask you that. Are you okay?" He watched her carefully, unsure of how she would respond. After all, he'd been keeping her at arm's length for the better part of two months.Mac swallowed her first automatic response of 'fine'. Sturgis was making an effort and she didn't want to shut him down despite her aversion to coming out from behind her professional facade. Leaning back in her chair, she fiddled with a pen and sighed a little, "No, not really."Sturgis lowered himself into one of her chairs, "Want to talk about it?"He watched her gaze dart nervously about the room before settling on him. She gave him a rueful smile, "I don't think there's enough time left in this century to cover everything."" How about hitting the highlights?" Sturgis winced slightly at her soft, incredulous snort, "Sorry, poor choice of words."Mac looked up at the ceiling for a moment, "How about we just stick to the latest and greatest?" She glanced down to see Sturgis nod and took a deep breath, "Yesterday NCIS came calling." She shook her head at the surprised and wary look on Sturgis' face, "Nothing to do with JAG and at first, or so I thought, nothing to do with me either. A Marine sergeant was murdered two days ago. Agent Todd came by with photographs, thinking I would know the victim. She also had pictures of his ex-wife."" They think it was the ex-wife? Why talk to... ? Ahhh, " Sturgis raised an eyebrow, "They can't find her and they think you know where she is."Mac nodded, "Except that I didn't remember either of them and that's what I told Agent Todd." She leaned forward to rest her elbows on the desk, "There was this annoying sense of familiarity but I couldn't pin it down. At least, not until yesterday evening when I was talking to Congresswoman Elbert. Then I remembered how I'd met the ex-wife."Sturgis gave her a puzzled look, "You know Congresswoman Elbert?"" Not until last night. It was Emma Fine's 60th birthday and her boys threw a party at Martinelli's. The Congresswoman was there and Emma introduced us. Anyway, I came in this morning and looked up the file. Staff Sergeant Mallory liked to get drunk and then go home and beat his wife. Tia Mallory finally had enough and ran to the Baylor shelter where she met Emma... "" ... and Emma got her in touch with you." Sturgis finished. "Do you know where she is?" He could see where this type of case would make Mac a bit touchy but she'd handled them before. Why was this one bothering her?She shook her head, "I don't think so. She refused to press charges or let me do something about him. All I could do was file the divorce papers for her. Tia moved out of state almost immediately - told me she had a friend in Philadelphia who could put her up for a while."" But you think she was lying." Sturgis made it more of a statement than a question.Mac shrugged, staring down at her hands, "Educated guess. Tia was terrified that her husband would find her and she didn't trust the court system to be able to keep her safe. Can't say I blame her for that."They were both silent for a moment. Sturgis cleared his throat, he would try to broach this as carefully as possible, "This doesn't sound too different from other abuse cases you've handled."" I know," Mac raised both hands a little and then let them drop back in her lap. She let her gaze travel around the room again, a frustrated look on her face, "Honestly, I know that but it got to me then and it's getting to me now. I keep seeing... " Her voice trailed off and she shook her head and gave Sturgis a small smile, "I'll be fine. I have an appointment to see Agent Todd at 1430 and that will be that. I won't have to think about the Robinsons again."" Who are the Robinsons?" Sturgis gave her a confused look." What?" Mac stared at him in surprise. How did he know about them?" You said 'the Robinsons'. Who are they?"" I did?" Mac rubbed her forehead, "They were... it's not important. I meant to say the Mallorys." She stood up and he got up as well, "I appreciate your concern, Sturgis, but I'm afraid I need to get going. I've got court in thirteen minutes."Mac grabbed her briefcase and headed out of her office. Sturgis waited for her at the doorway. Somehow he got the feeling that Mac had just let him see the tip of the iceberg. He'd hadn't actually thought about it before but she really had jumped right back into the office routine almost immediately after returning from Paraguay. Only once had she mentioned any sort of aftermath and that had been when he wasn't truly listening. He'd uncharitably blown it off as a typically female emotional reaction to the use of coercion. He'd been far too focused on nailing that traitorous son of a bitch. Now he was remembering something she probably hadn't meant to let slip: that she could still hear Webb's screams. What the hell had happened down there? "If you feel like you need to talk, my door's open, Mac." She gave him a quick smile and a nod, then walked out of the bullpen. He watched her leave and then turned back to his office, feeling somewhat encouraged. It seemed that they were both ready to renew their friendship.He had just entered his office when he heard Harm's voice behind him, "So I guess you two have kissed and made up?"Turning around, he saw Harm standing at the door. Sturgis waved him to a chair as he headed for his own, "Have a seat, Harm." He waited until they were both settled, "What can I do for you?"Harm shifted a little in his chair. He really didn't have anything important that he needed to talk about to Sturgis, he'd seen the two of them and hadn't been able to resist making a comment. Trying to appear casual, he waved a hand, "Nothing official, I was just wondering if you'd have time for a little one-on-one this Friday. Mattie's going to a concert with some friends from school."Sturgis grinned, "And you need some way to work off all that parental anxiety?" He reached for his day planner, "Let me check and see what time Varese is back in town. I'm pretty sure it's a late flight."Harm absently drummed his fingers on the armrest before lightly clearing his throat. "You and Mac are back to best buddies again?" he ventured in as offhanded a manner as he could.Sturgis gave him a pointed look, "I was never her 'best buddy' but yeah, we're getting back to where we were. You should give it a try."Harm gave a snort of disgust, "I've tried, she always off with Webb."" Always?" Sturgis raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think Webb was in town that often."" Often enough," Harm growled. A note of righteous indignation crept into his tone, "I even tried last night for all the good it did." He mimicked Mac's voice, "I'm sorry, I already have plans for this evening."" She told you she was going out with Webb?" Sturgis frowned, his recently regained rapport with Mac was going to suffer if she was yanking Harm around." Not in so many words," Harm admitted, "But every other time it's been Webb, so who else would she be going out with?" Damn, he hadn't thought of that. Was Mac dating? Had she completely given up on their relationship? He hadn't been oblivious to her attempts to reconcile but he had been leery about jumping back into the fire. That and he wasn't adverse to a little payback. Maybe it was a bit petty but, dammit, he was only human after all and his ego had taken a huge hit." She went to Emma Fine's 60th birthday party - alone, it sounded like. Didn't she tell you?" From the look on Harm's face, Sturgis could guess what had happened, "You took off before she could explain, didn't you?"" Well, every other time I've asked she's been out with Webb. Why wouldn't I think that she was going on a date with him again?" Harm said defensively. He decided he'd put off kicking himself until he was safely back in his office." No reason not to," Sturgis kept his tone sympathetic. He knew that Harm had been the injured party in the Paraguay fiasco but he was beginning to realize that he'd never actually heard Mac's side of it. She'd been firmly entrenched in her professional mode when she got back and he hadn't pried. Partly, that was because he was empathizing with Harm. Rabb had saved her life and in return, she'd dumped him for Webb. That had been pretty damn callous, as far as he was concerned. Mostly, however, it had been that he'd been too wrapped up in his own misfortunes to pay much attention to the ever-ongoing saga of Harm and Mac.
Harm hadn't given him that many details but it seemed like the two had once again danced between the raindrops, coming out virtually unscathed. Now, he was beginning to wonder if that was true at all and just how badly Paraguay and these past months had affected the Marine Colonel. Harm was pretty easy to sum up, he'd lost two things that had mattered most to him - Mac and his career. The hurt and anger were obvious and, just as obviously, a lot of it was directed at Mac. What the hell had happened down there? Looking at it a bit more objectively, he now realized it couldn't have been as one-sided as he originally thought. Mac was hardly impetuous or flighty. There had to be a serious reason (at least for her, anyway) to have broken up with Harm.He couldn't blame Mac for Harm getting booted out of the Navy. Rabb was a big boy and when all was said and done, he HAD resigned and in a blatantly in-your-face way with the Admiral. While Sturgis had a hard time understanding Chegwidden's inaction with Mac's disappearance, he'd have thought twice before pissing on the Admiral's shoes. At any rate, Sturgis was fairly certain that Mac would have easily made the same sacrifice had their positions been reversed. He re-focused his attention when Harm stood up." We're good for Friday night, then? Around 1730?" At Sturgis' nod, he gave a quick grin, "Thanks, man." Turning around, he headed back to his small cubbyhole of an office. He'd have to talk to Mac again. Hopefully, she wasn't ticked about his abrupt departure yesterday. Deep down, he just knew Mac and Webb could never work in the long run. Mac had too much integrity to put up with the moral and ethical compromises that Webb made on a daily basis. He'd assumed when the break-up occurred, that Mac would come to him as she always did. Now, after talking to Sturgis, he realized that he'd been dangerously complacent. What if she got tired of attempting to patch things up between them? While it certainly helped assuage his pride to have Mac chasing after him, he wasn't about to make the stupid mistake of causing her to give up. It was time he took a more decisive hand in reconciling with her.
