Thanks for the feedback on the story gang! I keep on being surprised that anyone is actually still reading. :)

There is a part in this chapter that amused me when I wrote it which is Mac's response to Palmer.

As for Dr. Halloren, I could have gone into more detail, but I doubt anyone wanted a longer outline as to how he managed to brainwash her. Sad really, Palmer is such a good bad guy, they should have used him a bit more. :P

Okay, Enjoy!

Jackie

Thanks to: joanoa, smithknk, mariarita, xobabygurlxo, Brittany4445, starryeyes10, jnp, dansingwolf, LiseGirardi, Martini, JadeAlmasy, Dessler, BiteBeccy, aserene, LtjgMegAustin, cbw, southernqt, froggy, harmfan, Judy, jtbwriter, Abigaile, XBlueShadowX, jaggurl, Lurkz, alix33, Nix707, echorage, aserene, chantelmac, Ink, Wuchel, CarbyGurl, Cristina and anyone else I missed for the feedback :) - If you left feedback and are not in this list, lemme know please

PART 9 – The Game Begins

2154 Zulu
Location Unknown
Virginia

It had been five minutes since the van had started moving again and already she was getting tossed about. 'Ugh, I am going to have a zillion bruises.' Mac thought as she tried to brace herself as best as one could while they were tied up. During the time when the van had stopped, she'd managed to check around and came to the sad conclusion that, she was alone. Things would have been a bit easier if Harm were with her. Harm. . .did he even know she was missing? After their conversation the night before, she wouldn't be surprised if he thought she was just skipping work. She had considered it after all.

But, after that, what then? When she didn't show up at his apartment for cheesecake and conversation, he'd notice and he'd go looking for her. Unfortunately, she still didn't know who her kidnapper was, if she did, then she could gauge how easy it would be for Harm or the authorities to locate her. Until then, the only thing in her mind was to find intel and try to escape. Now, that brought up a whole other set of question marks. Was she still in the States? Could she have been knocked out long enough for whoever it was to take her away? Checking her internal clock, she knew it was close to four thirty in the afternoon, but of what day?

All of her thoughts were shredded when the van came to an abrupt stop sending her against the back wall. Her shoulder hit with a hard thud and this time she couldn't conceal her groan. "Damnit!" She cursed.

That was when she heard him talk again. "Well, well, well, the Colonel is awake." Though she couldn't see, Mac could tell the man was smiling, the thought making her angry. "Hang tight back there, I'll come around and get you out."

Mac stood huddled against the wall, her shoulder screaming in pain. Hopefully it wasn't broken, she didn't need to add more misery to her life. Mentally cursing herself, she wondered what would have happened if she'd stayed unconscious. Would she have been better off? Maybe. Then again, some captors tossed unconscious victims about like rag dolls. No, it was better to be conscious. She heard the locks at the back of the van open and, through the bottom of the blinds, was able to see a little bit of light. Feeling the van dip down, she knew the person had climbed onto the back and was making his way towards her.

She braced herself, trying to find an opportunity to strike, but with her arms bound, there wasn't a chance. "Hey, hey, relax Colonel. I'm not gonna hurt you." Oddly enough, the man had soft, gentle hands. He didn't touch her inappropriately and didn't manhandle her. He simple helped her out of the van and down to the ground, cutting the rope at her legs so that should could walk freely.

The man slowly led her through the mill, taking care not to have her nick broken pipes and machinery. "Okay, there are steps here, we're going to take them nice and slow." He moved behind her, telling her when to lift her foot and when to ease it down. His hands were wrapped loosely around her wrists and he pushed her up from behind. It didn't take an entirely long time before they were walking down the metal catwalk and towards the room he'd prepared. Unlocking the door, he stepped in and switched on the light. With a smile, he pulled her in, walking Mac towards a chair where he sat her down. "Okay, Colonel. I am going to take the blindfold off and then the cuffs. I am not going to make any threats, I think you know that you'll be hurt if you try anything stupid. . . Now, say you'll behave."

"Yes." She ground out, swallowing hard in anticipation. Who had she pissed off now? A client? A residual terrorist from Sadik's organization? Maybe one from Temir's? No, that couldn't be because non of them would have taken this much care with her. The person who captured her did so for one reason, she was a trophy of sorts - which could mean one of two things a) he wanted her for himself or b) was going to use her to get to someone else. With a cool knife at her temple, she felt the material of the blindfold give way. Mac's eyes were painfully bombarded by light making it a few moments where, from behind squinted eyes she could see who had taken her. Ah, there was her answer. She was going to be used to get to someone else. That someone else was Harmon Rabb Junior. "Clark Palmer." Mac said followed by a hard sigh. "I'd say it's nice to see you again, but. . ."

Smiling, he closed the knife and slid it in his pocket. "Hey, I understand if you don't have the same sentiments as I do for you." Mac's eyes were protesting to the light, for that matter, so was her head which was now pounding mercilessly. "Drugs still bothering you, huh? Well, let's fix that. I want you to be really comfortable." Palmer walked over to the small fridge, grabbing a bottle of water. Then he produced a small aspirin bottle from a small shelf and brought them to Mac. "I am going to put the aspirin in your mouth." He did so then let Mac take a long gulp from the bottle. Staring at her, he shook his head and frowned. Didn't they teach officers any manners? "Isn't there something you want to say?"

"Fuck you?" Mac said with a good amount of sarcasm then smiled slightly as Palmer chuckled. She was half expecting a slap, or some other form of reprimand. None of that came.

Instead, Palmer sat on the edge of the bed, facing Mac with a cheerful expression. "I know you have questions, Sarah. . .May I call you Sarah?"

"Colonel is fine." She ground out, her voice not lessening it's sarcastic edge.

Palmer grinned. "Good. Now, Sarah." He began, putting emphasis on her first name to denote that he was going to use it whether or not she wanted him to. "You're a beautiful woman. . .Rabb's been a fool not to have gone after you sooner." With a chuckle, he clapped his hands together. "He almost let you marry someone else. . .What kind of a moron does that?" Standing he began pacing around her, placing his hands on her shoulders and gently massaging them. "Ah, so tense. . . As was your conversation last night." With a frown, he walked around and stood right in front of her. "I am truly sorry you can't have children, Sarah. . .Really I am."

Mac bit the inside of her cheek. She wouldn't cry, not with this slime standing in front of her. "Shit happens."

"Yea, it does. . .Too bad Rabb couldn't get his act together sooner. . ." He resumed pacing, stopping just behind her. Leaning in, he whispered. "So is he any good?"

"That's non of your business."

Standing up, Palmer placed his hands behind his back and started to walk around her again. "See, it is my business. Everything Harmy does is my business."

Harmy? Under any other circumstance she probably would have laughed, but now, all she wanted to do was rip his head off. "Leave him alone. . .You're out of Leavenworth. Just run, get the hell out of here and leave him alone!"

Stopping in front of her, he glanced down, then shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't do that. . . See, Harm has taken everything from me. He's taken my work, my money, my time, my energy and, my freedom." Gently, he brushed a hand over her cheek, his fingers moving towards her lips where they lingered. "And I am planning on taking as much as I can from him. . .Starting with you."

"Clark?" A female voice called from the door, startling both him and Mac. The woman, a blond with light colored eyes stepped closer into the room. She frowned slightly at the position she found Palmer in. His hand on Mac's face, his body just inches away from touching her own. "What the hell is going on?"

Palmer grinned. Women, they were all trouble, but, in order for all of this to work out, he needed that sort of trouble in his life. "Nothing, I was just getting acquainted with the Colonel here." Mac immediately caught the change in his tone. She wasn't Sarah anymore, now she was back to being the Colonel. Interesting.

The woman walked up to Palmer, placing a hand on his shoulder as she leaned in to take a good look at Mac. "Not too acquainted I hope." She shook her head slightly. True, they couldn't pass as twins, but there was a slight resemblance between the two women.

Mac glanced up watching the two practically make out in front of her. 'Wow, some woman actually fell in love with Palmer?' The thought was slightly disgusting. Maybe this was the way out of her mess? If the woman would visit her without Palmer, Mac could always try to befriend her. It could work. But, with the deadly look the woman was shoot at her, that idea was slowly starting to dissipate.

2239 Zulu
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown

"C'mon, Harm. . .wake up buddy." Sturgis sat against the wall, next to Harm who was laying down and slowly starting to come to.

They can't found out much about the chemical agent, Gibbs would give it to his people to check up on. But, it was apparent that it put people into some sort of deep sleep. Bud was pacing, managing to annoy the hell out of Gibbs who was standing by, waiting for Harm to recover. The two had taken to the task of searching Mac's apartment. Bud had been there before, when they'd worked jointly on cases, because of Harm's accident, he'd offered.

It was odd walking into Mac's apartment and having to sift through personal things. But, it was better than allowing a bunch of people non of them knew digging through one of his friend's homes. Walking into the bedroom, he frowned when he saw the Polaroid's that was laying on the bed with a note. "Bastard." Bud spat, flipping through the pictures of Palmer dressing an unconscious Mac. He gave a couple of the pictures to Gibbs for evidence, the rest he pocketed in hopes that it would help Harm somehow.

The note was identical to the one Harm had received, with the same smeared writing because of using a typewriter with improper paper. 'It took me so many years to finally see that the way to destroy good ol' Harmon Rabb was to use one Sarah MacKenzie. With much love, Clark Palmer.' There were no hints in the riddle, nothing he could use to find where Palmer might have taken her. Then again, Palmer wasn't a normal criminal and with the amount of training the DSD gave the man, he wasn't stupid enough to give away his whereabouts.

Neither Gibbs nor Bud could find anything else in the apartment worth looking over. Things had been just as Mac had left them. Nothing was taken and there were no signs of a forced entry. The NCIS team had bagged and tagged the items on Mac's table and anything that looked as if it were recently used, one never knew where you could find a clue. There was one clear thing, Palmer wasn't working alone. Someone had to have taken the pictures.

Harm could hear the agents discussing things, but he couldn't get his brain working enough to turn their conversation into something discernable. For that matter, where the hell was he? Maintaining his thoughts on moving his body, he managed to flex the fingers of his right hand. 'Good. . .now. . .get up.' He thought, attempting to right himself only to have this complete feeling of exhaustion. Somehow, his mind started working overtime, when the words "Pictures" and "The Colonel" came up in the conversation. Trying once more, he was able to lift his head with a loud groan.

Sturgis pushed his head down, carefully placing it back to the ground. "Easy, buddy. . .take it easy."

"What the hell happened?" Harm cringed, the light of the hallway was making his headache that much worse. "I think I am going to be sick." He said, somehow managing not to puke his guts out.

With a sigh, he helped his friend sit up, leaning his back against one of the walls. "You got sprayed by some chemical. . .NCIS is trying to figure out what it was. The EMTs said you would be fine that your vitals were all in working order." He steadied Harm as he tried to come to his feet. "Jesus, Harm! When you two piss people off, you really piss people off."

"You have no idea." He groaned, leaning against the wall as he worked on getting his bearings back. "Did they find anything?"

"Commander Roberts found pictures and the same note you have." Gibbs said, walking down the hall with Special Agent Kate Todd beside him. He showed Harm a picture similar to the one that was sent to JAG and frowned as the officer clenched his jaw.

Kate shook her head. No matter how many kidnappings they'd worked on, it was never easy. Seeing a man like Harm break down was probably the hardest and though he kept his emotions in check, she could see the pain in his eyes. "Commander, it's apparent that there's more than one person involved." She pointed at the picture. "Someone had to have taken that."

Harm nodded. "Are we done here?" He asked the two agents, receiving only nods as responses. "I'll be at headquarters if you need me." He slowly walked down the hallway with Sturgis helping him.

Kate and Gibbs exchanged a look. "I wasn't aware the Colonel and the Commander were. ." She trailed off with a smile. During Harm's investigation, she'd met both of them and then met Mac during a separate case. It was apparent that the two had some sort of link, she just never saw how deep it ran.

"Yea, yea. . .Let's wrap up here. I want to see what forensics was able to dig up." He headed down the hallway with Kate running up to catch up.

Standing in front of him, she placed a hand on his chest, stopping him from walking. "You feel guilty for going after him so hard that time, don't you?" He didn't answer, merely stared at the female agent as if she'd lost her mind. "Hey, I understand if you take a hard line on this case. I just want you to know, you have backup here."

Gibbs grinned. "Thanks Kate."

0120 Zulu
Arlington, Virginia

Dr. Nicole Halloren was laying on her bed being ravaged with kisses by her lover, Clark Palmer. With a content sigh, she slid into his embrace, resting her head on his chest. "We've never made love that passionately before." She said, knowing that it all had to do with her lover laying down his plans and having them work for a change.

"Hmmm. . .it was great, wasn't it?" He rolled his eyes slightly, then tightened his grip on the woman. This wasn't all that bad, though there were times that playing the dutiful boyfriend was driving him insane. Still, he needed her and not for the basic sexual need. No, he needed her for something more spectacular - sex was just a bonus.

Dr. Halloren or Nikki, as she preferred to be called, was a therapist, a good one. Though, apparently, not good enough. At one point of her life, she had a longing to learn about the law. She'd even managed to practice for three years, before the whole dark side of law made her back out. Nikki wanted to help people, to fix their problems and that want brought her to Leavenworth.

It had been years since they first met in Leavenworth. After his last attempt to kill Harm went awry, Clark Palmer found himself in a state of depression that he'd never felt before. Being locked up was starting to get to him and seeing article upon article about Rabb's heroics was just sharpening up the claws of that monster he had inside.

To add to his torment, the money he'd been slowly placing into a secret bank account with Harm's name on it, was accumulating to a nice, hefty amount. A hefty amount that he couldn't touch unless he was on the outside. He'd considered, once or twice, to get one of his DSD buddies to help, but as there was no honor among thieves, he knew better than to trust anyone with such a large sum of money, especially since said sum had well passed six figures. So, in his depressed and self-deprivating state, they had sent for a therapist, one that would hopefully get him back on track. Dr. Halloren was sent in.

At first, he really didn't care about it all. What was the point of trying to cheer up a person who was going to be locked up for life? But, the moment that she walked in, Palmer's eccentric mind was running on possibilities. Possibilities on way to destroy Harmon Rabb. It was pathetic, really, he was almost like a junkie trying to get his latest fix. But he wasn't doing drugs, no, no, his only obsession was to nail the Navy lawyer that had crushed his career and he would do that, one way or the other. It was almost a blessing that Dr. Halloren had come when she had. For Palmer, God had placed her in his life for the sole purpose of revenge.

To say that she hated him at first, was an understatement. She'd read about his crimes and sought out to do her job with little emotional involvement. So, for weeks she did just that, working through Palmer's made up demons. And then, one day, he cracked. . .

November 16, 2001
U.S. Disciplinary Barracks
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

Clark Palmer sat in his cell with an old issue of the Navy Times. There, split between pages of a four page article, were pictures of Harmon Rabb junior. The report had been written in May, about the crazy flight and how he was trying to get back to his best friend's wedding. Another picture had caught his eye, one of Harm and Mac taken during a high profile case in Norfolk.

"She stayed with him." He said softly, his mind recalling perfectly the night he was surveying Harm's apartment. His partner, Sarah MacKenzie had stayed over to protect him. But, was there something more to the whole story? "There has to be." He remembered the look Mac gave him, when he'd dressed up as Harm and she'd thought he was sick. She'd reacted strangely to him calling her "Sarah." There was a look of surprise and, maybe even a little admiration that he'd used her real name. Since then, he'd learned that she preferred to be called Mac.

Oh, how about the time he'd sent that knife in Mac's wedding present? Rabb had all but ripped his head off for that move. Now that he thought about it, he didn't really show the ubiquitous concern over a good friend. No, it was more than that. . .Harmon Rabb loved Sarah MacKenzie. "I'm such an idiot." He said gently, staring at the picture of the two more intently. The shrink, Jordan Parker was the wrong person to go after. Sure, no doubt losing that woman would have cost a good deal of hurt to Rabb. But, what if he'd lost his beloved partner? The one who he spent most of his time with? That's when it all clicked. He had to go after Sarah MacKenzie.

Step one, of course, was to get out of Leavenworth without being noticed. And there were measures to take, certain steps to ensure success. And those steps began with Dr. Halloren. Though she was a shrink, he could take her, could warp her mind, that was part of what he used to do after all.

So, that days session, he sat in the closed room waiting for the pretty blond to join him. Once she did, he was charming, all smiles and he would turn the conversation from his depression to her. "Are you married?" Palmer asked after he'd cleanly fielded a personal question that she asked of him. She'd been trying to get him to talk about family and he'd given her a sob story about the woman that broke his heart and left him at the alter. It was all bullshit, but the fake, emotional conversation had blown some of the woman's walls away.

"Excuse me?" She chuckled slightly, cursing herself for even thinking of him as slightly charming. A day or two ago, she couldn't stand him, part of her loathed him. How was it that, suddenly, she was finding him attractive? 'No, Nikki, no. . .You're not attracted to him. He's just trying to screw with her mind.' Then why was it, that even after her little pep talk with herself, she still gave him the information he wanted? "Not that it's any of your business, but, I am a widow."

Palmer frowned, as if he actually cared. Well, he did care, just not about the pain she'd gone through. "My condolences, I didn't meant to bring up anything painful."

"It was a few years ago, I am over it." She took out a notepad and jotted a few things down, sitting in a way that Palmer couldn't look over the notes.

"You writing about me?" He tried to peak, but Dr. Halloren stood and backed away. "Do not come near me."

Hmmm. This wasn't quite how he wanted to charm her. "I won't hurt you. . .Believe me, everything you've heard is a lie."

"As is everything I've heard from every other prisoner I've spoken to." She shook her head and went back to her seat. "Mr. Palmer, you aren't the only prisoner claiming your innocence and I am not a fool."

Damnit, he was hoping things would be a bit smoother. With a sigh, he placed his head on the table. "No one believes me." Ah, but his whole dramatic act was starting to bother her, starting to break something and he could tell. He glanced up at her, mustering his best sad puppy dog look along with a few crocodile tears. "Why would you believe me? I am in here, you're out there. . .and if I am in here, I must have done something wrong, right?"

Dr. Halloren stared at him for a moment. Now this was different. She'd spoken to the prisoners who always said they didn't do it. Even some that were remorseful, but the looks the man was giving her, made her WANT to believe. "I used to be a lawyer once upon a time. . ." She trailed off, biting her lower lip uncharacteristically. "Tell me what happened."

So, he told her, with as much emotion as he could muster, the story of him and a 'rogue' JAG officer. "He just broke in, stole classified documents. . .you know? The type that if weren't kept secret could endanger our government. . .And I was the one that ended up losing my job."

"And he's still a Naval Officer?" She asked, truly enthralled with his tale.

Palmer nodded. "Yea. . . later on I went to him, if only for us to talk and help clear my name. . .He didn't want to, so he had me put behind bars." He left out, of course, all of the juicy details – how he'd stalked Rabb, gone after his girlfriend, impersonated the man in order to get to a witness. "My only crime was that. . .in anger I tried to hurt him. . .As a result I am stuck here for life."

"I'll help you." And with that, the seeds had been planted in Dr. Halloren's mind. Little would she know that, about two years later, she'd be helping Palmer escape.. . .

August 20, 2003
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

Clark Palmer didn't trust anyone at all with the money he'd managed to steal. Well, thaws until Dr. Halloren came along. Two years after they had met, he'd been able to twist every little thought she had. He could manipulate her in ways he never dreamed possible, all he had to do was occasionally profess his love.

Nikki had used the money in order to find a man that looked close enough to Palmer. It was probably the most difficult part of the plan, but at least, she'd be able to finally get to spend alone with Clark. The man, Victor Girilli, was given one hundred thousand dollars and a promise that he'd be let out as soon as the higher ups had figured the wasn't the real Palmer.

Now, how did they manage to change places? Victor Girilli had walked into Leavenworth that day pretending to be Palmer's lawyer along with Dr. Nicole Halloren, who, the staff knew was his shrink. They had brought the prisoner in, chaining him down to the table and then, as usual, the guard stepped out and turned his back to the them. Because of client privileges, there were no cameras in that room, no microphones or any other way to note that they'd managed to remove Palmer's cuffs and clothing which he exchanged with Girilli. Then, putting on fake glasses, a beard and a mustache, like those that Girilli had been wearing, former DSD Agent Clark Palmer, walked casually out of Leavenworth. . .

0131 Zulu
Arlington, Virginia

As he lay in her bed, he recalled all of the events that led up to this moment. Everything was falling into place, slowly, but surely. And now that he had MacKenzie, it was just a little time before the real games could start. "Baby?"

Turning slightly, he smiled at Nikki, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Yea?"

"Do you find her attractive?" She was referring to Mac. Nikki didn't know why, but, there was something about the other woman that bothered her. Maybe her boyfriend was starting to fall for the pretty Marine Colonel?

"Yes, she is attractive, but I am not in love with her. . . I am, however, in love with you." He lied, it would be a bonus if he could somehow turn MacKenzie, though he doubted that would ever happen in his lifetime. But, he'd be lying if he said he'd never wondered what it would be like to have Mac, at least once. He twisted to the side and kissed Nikki deeply. "Get some sleep, we'll need it." With one final thought of Mac, he drifted into dream land.

. . . . . . . . .
joanoa – Poor Palmer, he is such a nice guy! Harm is the bad guy! Baaad!. But, realy, I don't need Palmer to die at the moment. ;)

LtJGMeg – What a waste of a good nemesis, really. I mean, by now, they should have had him going after Harm again. Would have been one hell of an episode. Sheesh!

Cristina – NCIS is too CSIsh for me. I just really do not see the point of adding anpther investigative show to the collection OF investigative shows despite that it's the Navy/Marines, yadda yadda. I think the shows are super cool, the whole forensics side of it/investigations, etc . . But not my thing. Not sure what exactly my thing is though LOL!

Harmfan – Palmer as Mac? Dood, yer sick! Therapy! Ewww! Wow, talk about the nightmares I am gonna have tonight. :P :cringe and twitch:

Dansing – LOL! I try to update as much as possible sometimes, not possible. I don't have any story fully written, I usually have at least 7-9 parts written and the rest of the story outlined with conversations. Which, basically means, I know what will happen, I have most of the covjnersation just not the emotions, inner thoughts, etc. It's amusing though, if you try to read it it's something like. - Harm talks to Bud about so and so. – Idea – Have him ask about Jordan – conversation about Palmer going after her. - It's amusing, really.

Froggy – Craving updates? ;) You junkie you! 12 strep program!

Jtb – NCIS is good now, then will come another higher up person that will help a bit more. Followed by a Stake out of sorts. ;)

Aserene – They'll get back together and as long a syou had your shots, Grrr away! ;)