A/N: Thanks for the reviews, people. Many of you are trying to guess what happens in the story. Let's just say . . . predict all you want! This is about to get twisted . . . and shippery . . . with our favorite pair.

Flashback to Classified Information:

"All right . . . here's what I want you to do . . ."

Mac and I bent our heads in.

"Absolutely not!" Mac and I scream.

The Plan

"No way," I breathe, my eyes stormy. I'm staring at Webb with every loathsome muscle I can possibly muster. "There is no possible way, Webb." I pause and whirl around to face Mac. "Right, Mac?"

Mac doesn't say anything, but her lips have gone white . . . and I know what that means. She's clasped her hands together and folded them over her knees and staring very intently at the ground. She's thinking . . . this can't be good.

"We can't, Webb," she says softly, averting both our eyes. "Not again."

Webb stays in the front seat, obviously lost in thought. "I can't make you do this," he said, his voice breaking at every syllable. He gets out of the car and we follow. I put my arm at the back of Mac's and tug it towards me. We turn around and start heading to the entrance of the JAG building when Webb's voice stops me.

"I lost my father to the Phantom," Webb whispered, but I can hear his voice cutting the air. "And I won't let anyone else die . . . not in the hands of the Phantom." Webb raises his head and stares at me with tears in his eyes that refused to break. "And you of all people, Rabb, should understand that."

Webb gets into the cab and drives away leaving me immobile with one hand on the handle of the door. Mac doesn't move me . . . she doesn't even try. And we stand there, together . . . but so far apart.

"All right," Webb said, his voice suddenly rushed. "Here's what I want you to do."

Harm and I bend our heads forward so as not to miss one word of Webb's carrying voice.

"Our prime suspect," Webb begins, suddenly turning to look me straight in the eye, "is Agent Aaron Riley of NCIS."

I can feel my heart skip a beat and Harm's eyes instantly stiffen. Riley . . . I can't believe it . . . Riley? Had Harm been right about him all along?

"But you said he's not the actual Phantom," I say, turning to meet Webb's eyes. "He's their connection."

"That's right," Webb said, nodding. "That's our prime suspect."

"Have you got more?" Harm asks, deep thoughts running races through his mind. "Because it would be hell if you arrested the guy. Especially one that's trying to catch the Phantom."

"Don't I know it," Webb sighed. "Things get very complicated very fast."

"Sounds like you're describing yourself," Harm accuses.

Webb ignores Harm. So do I. "But what are you going to do about it?" I ask. "If Riley's as untouchable as you make him sound, then there's nothing you could do . . . except for tail him." And then as an afterthought, "and I'm not sure that's quite legal."

"Quite right about that," Webb said. "All we have is circumstantial evidence. And that . ." he pauses, looking at us intently, "is useless when it comes arresting."

"So what do you want us to do?" I repeat, like a bad tape recorder that won't shut off.

Webb looks at me uncertainly. "We need someone on the inside."

Apparently this is supposed to have some deep meaning.

Webb rephrases. "We need someone close to Riley, someone who can get into his head and so some very legal searching. Get enough dirt on him so that we can make a formal arrest."

"And who's going to–" and then I cotton on. "No . . . not me. You can't mean me."

Webb shows no interest. "Riley is obviously taken with you from the over-enthusiastic roll he played in the Santa Monica scenario."

My eyes widen but then I shrug. Of course, Webb's the head of this op. He would know.

"And it would be extremely helpful to the plan if we had someone on the inside," Webb continued calmly. "And that, Mac, would be you."

"No," Harm said, jumping in to speak for me. "It's too dangerous."

"He's not the Phantom, Rabb," Webb shot back. "He's in the clear. We don't even know if Riley knows that he's being used by the Phantom. Heck, it might not even be Riley that is being used."

Webb lifts his eyes to meet Harm's, not mine. "I promise no harm will come to her."

"You can't do that." Harm whispers. "Both you and I know that."

"It's not your decision," Webb replies forcefully.

"That's right," I butt in. And then I turn to Webb, "and it's not yours either." I sigh slowly. "It's mine, and–" I cut in, looking directly at Harm. "I'll be the one to make it."

"Then why the hell am I here?!" Harm exploded. I guess it must take a lot for Harm to blow, or something like that, but he's mad. I can tell. And I know he's mad at me too. But I'm only part of it. There's a big picture, and Webb's a large piece of that puzzle.

"Because," Webb said grimly. "You're a big part of that puzzle too."

"Well, then tell us," Harm hissed.

"You, Rabb, I believe, went to the USNA in the year 1985," Webb concluded quietly.

"Yes," Harm replied, showing no signs to hide his evident boredom.

"That was one year before the Phantom's victims," Webb said.

"Yes," Harm replied quickly. "So I'm not in any danger. Get to the point, Webb."

"What if you weren't in the year 1985?"

"Huh," Harm grunted.

Yeah . . . huh?

"What if you were in the year of 1986 just like Lieutenant Commander Baron and the rest?" Webb asked calmly.

"Then I'd probably be dead," Harm said tiredly. I stare at him with one of those Don't Joke About That faces, and he obeys . . . to some extent.

"Or, at least, you'd be on the list," Webb said, staring meaningfully at us. "You and god-knows-how-many people."

I catch on. I catch on in that very instant and I feel my heart jump into my throat.

"No, Webb," I reply, shaking my head. "You're not going to . . ."

"We get Mac to set you up for the fall," Webb said quickly, interrupting me and not seeming to care. "And we cover you the entire time. The Phantom tries to kill you and we get him . . . simple as that."

"Absolutely not!" both Harm and I shout at the same time.

"You are not going to make Harm a victim!" I holler at Webb, not caring who overhears me. "You're going to get him killed!"

"And how can you let Mac get so close to the Phantom . . . or Riley . . . or whatever!" Harm hollers back at Webb. We both know what we meant and we've just realized something . . . something we've known all along but never voiced aloud.

We know what's most important to us . . . each other. And we've just proved it.

"As I said before," Webb said, unfazed by our outburst. "I can't make you do anything. You don't work for me. You don't work for the Agency. It's entirely your choice."

Something in his voice informs me he wants us to accept his mission. On the other hand . . . common sense says to ignore him. I couldn't bare anything happening to Harm. Not before . . . not before something happens with us. I'm not going to be one of those people that's going to wonder for the rest of their lives 'What if'. Not with Harm. He's too damn precious to me.

"No way," Harm breathes, his eyes suddenly fogged with thunderclouds. He looks scary . . . now I know why I don't get in his way when he's mad. Though usually I'm the cause of his anger. And I know he won't lay a finger on me . . . I use that power way too much.

"There is no possible way, Webb," Harm says, his voice steady but lined with anger and menace. He turns to look at me. "Right, Mac?"

I bite my bottom lip and close my eyes. Webb needs us. I mean, he really needs us. And there's a serial killer on the loose . . . so we should help. But it's Webb, and it's dangerous, and once again we're going to nearly-kill ourselves. Or maybe this time we'll go all out and end up next to each other in Arlington. Not a comforting thought.

"We can't, Webb," I say quietly. "Not again."

Webb nods his head, as if suddenly coming to an understanding. He taps the dashboard of the cab almost thoughtfully and then hauls himself out, Harm and I following him. I stand up out of the car and tuck one flyaway hair behind my ear. Webb looks so lost.

Harm reaches for my hands as if he knows exactly what I'm thinking. I hold it closely, he does know. Harm turns around and I follow him . . . to the end of the earth, if he wishes.

And then Webb speaks.

"I lost my father to the Phantom," he says in barely a whisper, but his voice could cut glass, it's so strong. "And I won't let anyone else die . . . not in the hands of the Phantom." He looks up from the ground to stare intently at Harm, with a stare I can't quite place. Mixed feelings. "And you of all people, Rabb, should understand that."

I can feel Harm tense beside me. Webb gets into his little cab and drives away, leaving Harm and I standing outside in the bitter cold. Harm refuses to move and I don't try and push him. Webb meant for those words to sting . . . and they did. They hurt him badly and I can't help but stay out there with him.

"We have to help him, Mac," Harm says after god-knows-how-long. "We can't let anyone else die. And we're . . ." his voice catches, "their only help."

"Webb doesn't deserve it," I whisper in reply.

Harm turns to me, his eyes connection with mine and instantly forming a bond that cannot be broken. "I'm not doing it for Webb."

A/N: Yes, we're actually getting into things now. And I guarantee, the next chapter will be much better. If I go on . . and I will if you review.