Title: Old Friends

Chapter Twelve

By: LizD

Written: June/July 2004

Disclaimers: No disrespect to JAG's cast, crew or creators. With love and thanks.

Old Friends - Chapter Twelve

Make New Friends, But Keep The Old

One Is Silver, And The Other Gold

Part 4

1709 LOCAL NAPLES (1609 ZULU - 1109 EST)

VOQ at Naples

Mac ended the call. She pushed her hands through her hair and paced the room.

She had just finished talking to the Admiral and Gates. Luckily they had not gotten all the way to JAG HQ; she was able to turn them around. She wasn't alarmed with what Gates had to say – that Webb was alive and looking for her - but then again she felt that Gates still wasn't saying everything she knew, or at least thought she knew. All that was really clear was that Gates was worried, which in and of itself is troublesome. Gates was not a flighty person. There was probably more that Mac needed to know.

She dialed Harm's cell.

Hey beautiful, how are you? His all to cheerful voice came over the line.

"Better now." She breathed a sigh of relief just to hear his voice. "How did it go?" She asked sinking down onto the bed.

Long ugly story, but suffice it to say, we are status quo for a while.

"Good." She sighed. "You are OK?"

Yeah, I'll tell you about it later. I wish you were here. He was thinking that he was grateful she didn't have to deal with that judge but would have loved to have her there to debrief with.

"Me too." She sighed. "Is Mattie OK?"

Fine. She is with Tom.

Now they could move on to the next crisis. "Where are you?"

Her questions and the tone of her voice were beginning to unnerve him. Heading back to JAG. He finally had to ask. What's going on, Mac?

"What is on your plate today?"

Not much, cleared it incase things didn't go well. But now I can go talk to Sebring about joining you.

"You can't do that." She said a little too quickly. Then very cryptically she added. "The news is out."

He was silent for a moment and knew she was trying to tell him something without giving it out over the wires in case someone was listening. He thought it might have something to do with the two of them in which case they would have to address how they were going to continue to work together – or not. He decided to ask a few un-pointed questions and see where it led.

Out to whom?

"The Doc and the Admiral … not sure who else."

It wasn't about them. He thought for a moment. Webb. He has resurfaced?

"Don't have all the information. I need you to speak to the doctor directly."

Are you OK?

"Fine." She didn't sound like she meant it. "On base in Naples."

He asked the next question after a brief pause. How's the trial going? He was thinking about what he needed to do and filling time, he didn't really care about the trial.

"Not well." She knew what he was doing. "I am going to lose if I can't get the Lieutenant to change his story."

Do you still believe that she is innocent?

"Yes."

So you have at least a couple more days there?

"Yes."

I'll see you tonight.

"Harm."

It will be your morning, but I'll be there. Hours away. He took a deep breath. I'll call you, when the plans have been made.

"Ok." She said. "Thank you."

I love you. He ended the call.

"I love you, too."

Mac felt better after talking to Harm. He was there and could get all the information that Gates had and also track down anything else he needed to. It was at times like this that she hated to be away from home, but it was also in times like this when she knew Harm was the only person she could trust. She was grateful to have him in her life. Right then, she needed a hot shower. She checked the lock on her door and wished that she had a weapon.

1223 EST – Friday, July 9th

Chegwidden Residence

McLean, Virginia

Harm had arrived at AJ's house just after AJ and Gates did. He was fairly annoyed with Gates and not impressed that he needed to deal with this with his former CO.

"Why didn't you come to me?" He upbraided her.

"You should learn to answer your phone."

"Messages are usually a way to get through." He chided.

"Messages get missed or ignored."

He shook her off. He was getting nowhere. "Tell me everything you know and everything you think you know … and pretend like I know nothing." He was a little harsh. "And I don't give a rat's ass about doctor patient privilege."

"Rabb." AJ warned.

"Admiral … I need the truth and all of it."

"I don't have the truth, Hammer." Gates snapped. "I have rumor and speculation." She glanced over at AJ. "I deal with people telling me things that they don't want to tell me and aren't cleared to tell anyone. I have to glean what is real from them and I don't always get it right. Not to mention I am usually not trying to glean some elaborate plot, I am usually trying to help them learn to live with the craziness of their lives. So I don't deal in those kind of facts."

He was getting more frustrated. "Tell me what you heard and from who." Harm ordered.

"An agent who had been on a mission had been brought in from the cold – as they say in the spy novels, and I have been working with him for a month or more."

"Who?" Harm asked.

"Does it matter?"

"Yes."

"Agent X." She glared at him.

He waved for her to continue.

"Agent X was assigned this case with Agent Y and Webb. It went horrible wrong. Supposedly three agents died on the Thomas Lyon's, but he doesn't believe Webb is dead. In fact, he is going pretty far out of his way to prove that Webb is alive. Apparently the higher ups are less than cooperative."

"Why?"

"I don't know, all I can tell you is what he said – what he believes happened and is happening."

Harm nodded for her to continue. "What was their mission supposed to be."

"There were reports of activity coming out of Indonesia that were linked to Sadik Fahd."

She hadn't told AJ this earlier. "Fahd is dead." AJ declared.

"Not according to this agent. According to him, Fahd had sent someone to get Mac out of the country. That is who Mac killed. He failed."

"Apparently." AJ stated.

Harm didn't believe it. "Mac knew him – she was close enough to make tea for the man. She would know if it were Fahd or not."

"You think so?" She challenged.

"I do." He asserted.

"A man who can change his appearance like his underwear that she met for maybe six hours total over nine months before during a very stressful situation. A man who haunted her dreams … you think she could pick him out of a crowd?"

"I do." He nodded. "Mac could."

"You have never seen somebody that you thought looked like someone else? And if that somebody pretended to be that someone else, you didn't let yourself be convinced that it was? Particularly because you wanted it to be."

Harm flashed on his father and Clark Palmer. He shook it off. "You are saying that Mac wanted it to be Fahd?"

"I am saying that if is looks like a duck, and talks like a duck … just means that it's a duck, not THE duck."

"Gates – get to the point." AJ prodded.

"The point is that this agent was told that Fahd was alive – or at least appeared to be alive. Webb, he and another agent were sent to bring him in – alive, if possible."

"And the company didn't feel the need to tell Mac that she killed the wrong man?" Harm asked.

She gave him a look that said, 'would the company tell you the sky was blue if you asked?'

"Fair enough." Harm acknowledged.

"They found someone or two someones – I am not really sure and were transporting them to the Thomas Lyons during a storm. Things got confusing, shots were fired; men fell overboard."

"Three agents were lost." Harm contended.

"Actually it was two agents and one of the people they were bringing in. The other person they were brining in was shot and died later."

AJ looked to Rabb. "That is the prisoner who died on the Guadalcanal?"

"I can only assume so, sir." Harm said.

"May I continue?" Gates needed to get it all out. "And if you can let me finish my story without interruptions you might actually get everything I know."

Harm sat back and waved for her to continue.

"My man thinks the Webb traded identities, faked his death and has gone over the deep end. He is on a mission to find this Fahd will stop at nothing. The latest word is that he will use Mac as bait."

Harm stood up. "Bait?"

"This is what I have been trying to telling you."

"Webb would not that." Harm defended.

"He took her with him to Paraguay – he knew the risks and he took her anyway. He has been gathering information about her – tracking her whereabouts since he has been 'dead' – now that she is out of the country she is more vulnerable. He can get to her."

Harm pulled out his phone and stepped to the side. He called her cell phone. It was not in range. He tried Bud and Turner's … nothing. It must have been his phone. He looked to the admiral.

"I will keep trying."

"Thank you." He looked back a Gates. "Anything else?"

"No."

Harm left without a 'thank you' to Gates.

Gates looked back at AJ. "Is he going to be able do anything about it?"

"If anyone can – Harm will find a way." He stood up. "But he is not doing it alone this time."

VOQ

Naples

Mac finally got through to Harm. He told her as much as he could about Gates' supposition and suggested that she stay in lock down or only go out with someone she knew. She was frustrated but understood the need to not get that level of sensitive information over the phone. He would be there in several hours. He had convinced Captain Sebring to allow him to go to Naples to assist Mac with the defense. The captain was not fooled by Harm's protestations and only reluctantly gave his authorization.

"He knows doesn't he?" Mac asked referring to their relationship rather than this thing with Webb.

Maybe, I think he also knows that nothing would have prevented me from going.

"Harm, they are going to split us up."

That is the least of my concerns right now, Mac.

"I will be fine. I can take care of myself." She took a breath. "He won't hurt me. He won't put me in danger."

I know that, marine. I just like watching your six. He tried to joke but it did not come out very funny.

"I like you watching it." She smiled. "I will see you later."

You will.

They hung up and Mac paced a little. She thought about getting some work done, but she was too anxious. There was a knock on her door. Her mind still on this new information but not the danger, she opened it.

The man from the park was standing there. She recognized him immediately.

"Oh My God!" She gasped.

1453 EST

Rabb Residence

North of Union Station

Harm needed to run home, pack and be at Andrews in less than 90 minutes. He smiled when he checked his watch the last time. It was actually only 83 minutes. He knew Mac would have known without looking.

He climbed the stairs taking them three at a time, in too much of a hurry to wait for the elevator.

When he approached his apartment he heard music coming from in side. He tried his key, but the door was open. Upon entering he found that there was food cooking, a bottle of wine had been opened with one glass poured, and the water in the bathroom was running. He reached behind his bookshelf and retrieved his weapon. He was on his way toward the bathroom, when the intruder came toward him.

"Rabb." He said stepping past him down the steps.

Harm un-cocked the gun. "Webb."

"Put the gun away, I've been dead." The man continued to the kitchen. "Not as liberating as you might think."

Clay was fresh from the shower and was wearing one of Harm's bathrobes.

"Make yourself at home." He said snidely.

"Don't mind if I do." He picked up the wine glass and took a long sip and made a face. "I must say, Rabb, fatherhood sure had taken a toll on your wine cellar. You used to have better taste."

"If I had known you were coming, I'd have shopped." He stuffed the weapon in the back of his pants and moved to join Clay in the kitchen.

"Next time." Clay pulled out a plate of leftovers out of the oven. "However, I think this is the best lasagna you have made – hell I ate most of it cold."

Harm looked at him – really looked at him – really tried to see him – not with any jealousy or animosity, but as a man … as a friend. He seemed like the same old Clayton Webb. Maybe he was a little thinner, a little more ragged around the edges, grayer, but clear eyed and sharp … sharper than he ever had been in the past. At least that is what Harm thought.

"To what do I owe the honor?" Harm asked taking a glass and pouring himself some wine.

"The honor of a dead man in your home?" He glanced up at him with a mouthful. "Thought I would let you finish the job?"

"I can't kill you Webb – no one can – don't you think I know that by now?"

"Better men than you have tried." He gave him a look. "How's Sarah?"

"Sarah is … moving on nicely." Harm answered coldly.

"Didn't waste anytime, did you?"

"I think eight years was long enough."

"Eight years? Please … you have me to thank you know."

"For dying or coming back?"

"She needed someone and you were the only one left." He dumped the rest of the food on his plate in the garbage. "Good ol' standby Rabb."

Harm held his tongue but he knew that Webb knew he was hitting major buttons.

"Don't worry, I am not going to fight you for her. I'll just wait until you screw it up – and you will – or she comes to her senses and I will be right there waiting with open arms."

"What do you want Webb?" Harm was not going to play with him and not about Mac.

He took another thoughtful drink from his glass and asked him man-to-man. "What do you know?"

"I know that there is a rumor afoot that Sadik Fahd is not dead."

Webb laughed. "That's funny. That is what I heard. We must be hooked into the same network."

"Is it true?"

"Is it true? … Well you can say that I died trying to find out." He laughed again.

"Webb … Sarah is in Naples." Harm used her given name to show Webb that he was close to her.

"I know where she is." He said cockily refilling his glass. "I'm on it."

"On it? What does that mean?"

"Need to know."

"I need to know." Harm stated. "I am on my way there right now."

"That is why I am here, I am going with you."

"Excuse me?"

"I am going with you. You are going to get me on that transport plane."

"Why on earth would I do that?"

"Because you need me … and I need you … and we both want Sarah … we are going to put this Sadik business to bed. Once and for all."

"So he is not dead?"

"Oh no … he's dead. Sarah made sure of that." He grinned. "BAM … right between the eyes." Webb studied Harm for a moment. "She killed him for me – you know." He said proudly. "God she is something else. What a woman. So alive. So passionate. … So … je ne sais pas … I have really missed her … and that little sound she makes when --."

"WEBB!" Harm bellowed to get him back on track. If he were any other man, Harm would have torn him apart with his bear hands, but Webb did know Mac intimately and that was a fact. "What are the three of us going to do to 'put this Sadik business' to bed?"

"Ever hear of the woman scorned, Rabb?" He laughed again. "Hell, I am sure you have left women scorned all over the world."

"I am an amateur compared to you." He lobbed back.

"In my younger days, the love of a good woman has turned me from the dark side."

"What does this have to do with Sadik?"

"Sadik had a wife … actually he had six wives." He shrugged. "Good work if you can get it, huh?"

"And?"

"Well his last wife, Zuleika Fahd, used to be Nancy Ellen Hatfield – Blue Ridge Mountains, West Virginia. She met Sadik in South America and converted to Islam. They were married shortly before Mac and I tied the knot … as it were. They were on their honeymoon when we were on ours." Webb loved digging it to Harm.

"Keep talking, Webb."

"She has taken offense at the killing of her husband. She had plans for him. Well you know what they say, you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl … she wants retribution – Hatfield and McCoy style. She is aiming that on us."

"Does she know you are not dead?"

"Not yet – at least I don't think so." He stated walking toward the bedroom. "I was working my way up to her, I think one of her men recognized me." He called back from the room. "That is why I am here." He was getting dressed.

"So where is this grieving murderous widow?" Harm turned to clean the kitchen.

"She is waiting for us in Afghanistan."

"Waiting for us? Let her wait."

"She is waiting for now … she will come after us … and it is very personal, however she has no issue with taking out six city blocks just so long as we are at the center of it."

"So, call it in. If you know where she is … call in your spook boys and take her out."

"You don't play this game well, do you Harm?" He shook his head.

"No, and I am not sorry to say that."

"The company is not interested in Fahd's widow or her vendetta. What is one marine, or pilot, or agent, for that matter – more or less – to them. Mac served her purpose and was useful – but they don't owe her – or any of us – anything. They will only act to take Zule out if she becomes a threat to more than just us. I don't want it to get that far."

"You work for these people?" He was disgusted.

Webb stepped back down into the living room. He was wearing one of Harm's uniforms. He was too short and too thin, but it would work. "I have retired."

Harm scanned him up and down and shook his head. "Your choice or theirs?"

"They still think I am dead." He shrugged. "Well they are pretending that I am dead."

"With mother's help?"

"Mother understands that I need to do this … she understands the bonds of love."

Harm studied him for a moment. "Too bad she couldn't pass that on to you … if you loved Sarah at all, you never would have taken her to Paraguay and none of us would be in this mess right now."

"Honestly Rabb … if you had loved her enough to speak up … in the right time, she never would have gone to Paraguay with me. Or – on the other end, if you had didn't feel the need to play HERO this could have all been over a year ago. I say this is all your fault."

"Go to hell."

"That's where I have been that last seven weeks when you were putting the moves on my girlfriend." He snapped back at him.

"What is your plan, Webb?"

"My plan is to go with you to Naples, pick up my girlfriend and the three of us will confront Mrs. Fahd and end this whole thing."

"That's it?"

"I don't know exactly where she is and there is some Intel that she has hooked up with some lieutenant in Al Qeda."

"So Gates was right … you are going to use Mac as bait."

"Not just Mac, you'll be on the hook too." He nodded. "Of course there are a few more people who have your name on the hit list … destroying 100 stinger missiles tends to piss them off … particularly when they can't get their money back."

VOQ

Naples

There was a knock on her door. Mac opened it.

The man from the park was standing there. She recognized him immediately.

"Oh My God!" She gasped. "Gunny!"

The man before her was Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez – albeit worse for the wear.

"Colonel." Was all he was able to eek out. He collapsed into her arms.

Mac helped him to the bed. "Are you injured?"

"No, ma'am." He tried to sit up. "I have barely eaten in three days."

"Gunny, lie down. I'll get you some food." She poured him a glass of water.

"No, ma'am. You need to get out of here. It is not safe." He told her. He did take the offered water.

"Gunny, this is a US Navy base. Where could we possibly be safer?"

"I have a place. I need to get you there."

"Gunny." She protested.

"Ma'am, how much do you know?"

"Are you asking me if I know that Webb is not dead?" She asked. "I know that much."

"There is a lot more." He stood up. "I will tell you on the way."

"Harm is coming here. I can't leave."

"He is coming with Webb. Webb knows where we will be." He explained.

"Webb is with Harm?" She had a sick sensation in her stomach. When Harm and Webb got together they gave knew meaning to the expression 'pissing contest' and now that she was involved with Harm, would she be more than a prize they were fighting over? Dogs with a bone? She shook it off. This was clearly the next hurdle for Harm and Mac to clear. What were the odds? What were the odds that Webb would back away gracefully? What were the odds that Harm had grown up at all? What were the odds that if they lived through it literally – they would still be together? She had her work cut out for her.

"Please, ma'am." Gunny brought her back.

She nodded. "After we get some food into you."

"Yes, ma'am."