These are going to be slow this week, anticipate two postings probably. Very busy with work, I have about a thousand (no joke) clients to call about a product they ordered. And I have a zillion things to do around the house like finish fixing our kitchen and building a shed for the washer and dryer.

Hopefully, this week will FLYBY. I can't wait until Friday. Now cross your fingers that no political crap comes up or late breaking news or something. ;)

Have a Good Week!

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, Inkand anyone else I missed for the feedback :) - If you left feedback and are not in this list, lemme know please

Part 10 – Escape And Information
0125 Zulu
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Coates had tried knocking on Harm's doorframe, but the Commander was too far gone in his thoughts to hear her. After arriving back with Bud and Sturgis, Harm had been on the phone off and on with NCIS and now, he was just sitting in his chair looking out the window. Coates would have normally been wrapping things up for the day, but after scuttlebutt had run through the rumor mill that was the office, she decided to stick around and help field any calls. So, she stepped into his office without permission, touching his shoulder and startling the both of them as Harm practically leapt out of his seat. "Sir? Are you alright?"

Harm glanced up at her and shook his head. "Have you heard?" She didn't answer him, but her look spoke volumes. "I feel the same way I did when she left with Webb two years ago. . .except this is worse. . ."

Jen had, somewhat, learned to keep her mouth shut during certain episodes of her life. But, this one, she couldn't do that, especially with a person that had saved her. "Sir. . .Harm. . .You'll find her. . .I know the Colonel is just as stubborn as you are, she knows you'll be looking for her. . . And as long as she knows that, she'll fight until you find her."

Something about that made him feel just a little bit better. Jen was right about that, both he and Mac were fighters and as long as they had a breath within them, they would fight. "Thanks Jen." He took a folder that she presented him with and opened it up to find the faxes sent from Leavenworth. Harm thumbed through the pages frowning as he glanced down at a picture that didn't help their current situation. "Damnit, he did it again."

"Who did what, sir?" Coates asked staring down at the pictures Harm was spreading across his desk. "Is this the man who took the Colonel?"

"No! Damnit!" Harm slammed his fist down onto the desk, ignoring the sudden influx of pain that was now radiating up his arm. "Son of a bitch!" Standing, he took the files and weaved his way through the bullpen with Coates hot on his heels. He knocked on the doorframe and stepped in without invitation. "General, sir. . .Leavenworth was wrong, this isn't Palmer." He placed the folder on his desk and sighed. "He's done this before, had someone who looks like him stand in. . .This isn't him!"

Bud chose this moment to walk in as well holding his own folder full of Palmer information. "Sir, I took the liberty of finding our past information on Clark Palmer." He gave the information to the General who found a set of pictures that were similar to the ones Harm handed him, but not quite. Along with pictures from Leavenworth, there were Palmer's DSD files and identification. "That's everything I could dig up."

Cresswell looked through the details, shaking his head slightly. The folder and everything inside boasted that thick, big letters that clearly stated the documents were, "Classified? These are classified? How'd. . ."

"Not anymore, General." All three men glanced towards the door finding non other than Clayton Webb dressed in his typical three piece suit.

Harm stared at Webb and then over at Bud who informed him as to why the agent was there. "I am sorry if I overstepped a boundary, sirs. But, the CIA does have more information on Palmer than we do. . .Given that Mr. Webb was. . .ah. . .friends with the Colonel. . ." He trailed off, delicately choosing the right words to describe Mac and Webb's relationship. "And uh, friends with you too, Commander. . .He seemed like the right person to bring aboard."

"What have you found out, Clay?" Harm said, turning to shake the other mans hand. Somehow, he didn't feel that same resentment over the agent anymore, maybe it had to do because, in the end, he'd won. He shook his head of those thoughts, Mac would be pissed if she knew he was thinking about her as a trophy.

Clay sat down on one of the large leather chairs and sighed. Roberts had informed him of the kidnapping hours earlier and, since then, he'd been on the trail, so to speak. "I would love to say that Palmer's been out for a day or two, but I'm afraid that's not the case."

Harm's stomach knotted tightly as he dreaded an answer. "How long?"

"Since August of 2003." He said slowly, knowing full well that was way too much time to give Palmer for anything. If he'd managed to do so much in the past with just a few months, what the man could probably do in years would likely destroy them.

Moving to the edge of the chair, Harm placed his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. "Oh Jesus Christ. . .that's like a lifetime." He shivered slightly, ideas running through his head of things that Palmer was capable of. Then there was one great fear that was making him nauseous: what if he'd never see Mac again? What if Palmer hid her away forever leaving him to spend his life in search of her. And he would search for the rest of his life if need be. There was only one thing that he knew, "We have to find her and soon."

Clay agreed, part of him was still in love with the Marine Lt. Colonel and though, he knew, the better man had won her heart, he wasn't going to try and be petty about the whole thing. Harm, at one point, was a friend, one that had helped him in the past. This would be his way of righting the wrongs.

1120 Zulu
Location Unknown
Virginia

The room was cold and dark, it was probably some sort of sick plan of Palmer's to keep her out of it for as long as possible. It would have worked had Mac's impeccable sense of timing ceased function, but it hadn't. "HELP!" She tried yelling for, what had to be the billionth time, but she knew that was futile. There was something about the room she was in, as if the walls were absorbing her screams making them unable to be heard.

Mac's body felt like pure lead. Her arms, that were still bound behind her back no longer had feeling. Perhaps the worst part was the growing need to relieve herself, which, she had made a silent oath, she would not give him the satisfaction of her soiling herself. "Damnit Palmer, if you're out there let me. . ." Her words died down as she heard the deadbolt outside being unlocked. Her eyes squinted slightly, adjusting to the light from the outside.

The woman walked in slowly, a smile graced her lips as she squatted in front of Mac. "I'm sorry that we forgot about you, Colonel." They really hadn't left her there on purpose, but in their passion, they'd gotten carried away. During the time she'd spent with Clark Palmer, Nikki had learned a thing or two, so she took care not to give Mac a moment of levity. "I am going to uncuff you." She went around and rifled through her jean pockets until she produced a key. "I am armed and I know you are a Marine, but if you try anything stupid, Clark will take care of your lover once and for all."

This was all going to be hell on her, she knew. Palmer was sick and twisted, mercifully, he'd never really been able to get at Harm, save for the few times he'd given her partner a good scare. But, this was entirely different, she knew she'd be used, but how was another question altogether. "I'll behave." She promised, it wouldn't be too farfetched for Palmer to off Harm because she'd done something wrong, though that wasn't the way he operated. Then again, maybe her playing along was all Palmer wanted? If she could do something to keep the man away from Harm, she would, damn the consequences.

The moment the cuffs came off, she felt her arms drape lifelessly to her sides. She breathed hard through the sudden pain, willing herself not to cry out as sharp pulses ran up and down her arms. The woman was now standing in front of her with an amused grin. There was something about her demeanor that told Mac this woman had never done this sort of thing before. "Ask me if you could get up, Colonel." Nikki liked this, her ability to control such a normally commanding woman.

Glancing up, Mac gritted her teeth knowing this was some sick way to screw her up mentally. "May I get up?"

"You may." Nikki said, pointing a 9mm towards Mac as she slowly got up. "I am sure you need to use the restroom as well, Colonel? It's to your left, I'll wait here."

Mac shuffled through the room, barreling into the small table as she worked on getting her footing back. This was the degrading part, acting like an invalid in front of a woman who was toying with her like a worm on a string. In the bathroom, she closed the door, surprised that Nikki had allowed her that moment of privacy. Looking around the room, she soon saw why. The window that was once there, had been welded shut. Though she hadn't had the chance to inspect her confines, she figured that the main room's windows were also permanently closed. With a long, defeated sigh, she tended to her needs, glancing around as she tried to find something she could use to disable the woman outside.

"Clark and I left a toothbrush and some paste in there, Colonel. We really do not want you to think we're mistreating you."

"Heaven's no." Mac sarcastically yelled back. She stared at the toothbrush and the paste. Unscrewing the cap she then brought it to her nose, examining it against any type of chemical Palmer might have used. It seemed fine, so she took her time, meticulously brushing her teeth, anything to give her just a few moments to formulate a plan. And there, through the reflection in the mirror, she got an opening. Leaving the water running as a backdrop to ward against noises, she tip toed to the bathtub and stood on it's edge. Carefully, she pulled out the shower curtain rod. Holding on to the side of the wall, she brought herself down, then shut off the water. "Batter up, Bitch." She said under her breath, then opened the door.

Nikki was standing there, wicked smile on her face and the 9mm pointed at Mac, but her finger wasn't on the trigger. The Marine hid the rod behind the door as she slowly came out. "Oh, hurry up, Colonel, you and I need to. . ." The woman didn't have a chance to get another word out as Mac quickly took the rod and thrust it into Nikki's midsection. Not used to combat, she couldn't protect herself from the blow or the pain and ended up dropping the 9mm. Mac would have run out of the door and never looked back, but at some point, probably when she was in the bathroom, the door had been locked with the deadbolt. She yanked the door knob, but it would not budge. "Damnit!"

Mac dove for the weapon and dropped the rod to the side. "Get up." She said, pointing the pistol where Nikki lay on the ground. "I said, GET UP." She yelled in her best DI voice, not even given the woman a chance to catch her breath. The other woman stood, slightly hunched over as the Marine felt through her pockets and produced a key. "Sorry about this." With one hard swoop, she belted the woman on the side of the head with the gun, then made for the door. Oddly enough, the first key she used was the right one. "Yes!"

She spilled out of the room then stopped for a moment to gauge her surroundings. "Holy shit." Mac said, after taking a deep breath. They had her held in a plant of sorts, maybe a foundry? Looking downward, she got a slight sense of vertigo as the catwalk was the type made out of mesh, with holes that you could use to stare downward. "Woah, c'mon Marine." Holding on to the railing, she got her bearings, then turned to lock the door to her cell.

But, she should have just run as fast as she could. When she turned around, Palmer was waiting. "Trying to escape, Sarah? . . .Ooof!" Marines, especially this female one, were just a bit too quick for his taste. In a movement, she'd kicked him, sending him to the ground on his back. Attempting to save her life, Mac took a shot at Palmer, only to find the gun had no bullets. "Surprised? Did you think I'd let that bitch in there have a loaded weapon? I am not stupid."

Mac tossed the weapon at him, hitting Palmer directly over his right eye. She turned and ran down the catwalk, sprinting until she reached the steps. She was more than half way down the steps when she heard Palmer running down the catwalk. She turned, only to gauge how far he was, but the movement caught her delicate muscles off guard. Without warning, her legs gave way, sending her tumbling down the rest of the steps until she reached the bottom and her body hit ground with a hard thud.

0220 Zulu
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

It was well past quitting time, still, five certain individuals sat in the conference room. There were papers spread all over the table, some in piles, some singly placed in front of one of the individuals who was picked to go over that particular set of information. There were also pictures, a lot of pictures. The JAG cameras had, indeed, gotten a shot of the person who'd delivered the note from Palmer. It was a woman, that much they knew, but no one, not even the CIA photo experts, could get a clear shot of her face.

"Yes, I want those details faxed to JAG, yesterday, am I clear?" Clayton Webb stood near the bookshelves, barking orders into his phone, wishing that he could have the control the military did. The CO said, 'jump' and the subordinates would do as told. With the CIA, however, many times orders had to be repeated over and over again. "You already HAVE the number! I am giving you two minutes to get that information faxed or your ass is grass." He shut the flip of his phone then stuffed it back into his pant pocket.

Harm stared up at the man, slightly confused as to why he was helping this much. "You look well, Webb." He gauged that the wounds sustained when searching, the first time, for the Aurora's were as bad as he thought. No doubt, the man could have died, but maybe the extent of the wounds was just a ruse?

Webb shrugged and settled himself next to Harm. "I heal fast, what can I say?"

"That maybe the wounds weren't as bad as I thought they were?"

"There is that." Clay grabbed his, now cold, coffee and took a long sip. With a sigh he turned fully to Harm and smirked. "Thank you, for saving me, Harm. . .and for Paraguay too."

Okay, now this had Harm slightly worried. When the hell did Clay ever apologize or thank someone? Maybe along with the treatment at the hospital they'd given him a heart? Or better yet, taken that stick out of his ass? "Who the hell are you and what have you done to Clayton Webb?"

He held up his hands defensively, chuckling slightly. "Hey, can't a guy be appreciative?"

"Sure, but with you, it usually comes with a set of conditions, some, that usually have me or my partner going though hoops for you." Apart from Webb being. . . well, Webb, Harm couldn't ever figure what the hell Mac saw in the spy. James Bond/Bond Girl syndrome, maybe? Hadn't their collection of near fatal excursions taught her not to trust the man?

Webb sighed, he hated admitting emotions nearly as much as Harm did, "Look, Rabb. . . I know, after the hell I put the two of you through that I am not your favorite person."

"Helluva understatement, Webb."

He ignored Harm's sarcasm and took another breath. "You saved my ass, and I'll admit it, I hate that you and Sarah are together. I hate it with a passion you'll never comprehend." Oh, Harm could comprehend, alright, it was the same hatred he harbored when his secret love and the spy had their. . .thing. "But, I do know when I've lost and I do know how to be grateful for you helping me out, okay?" Leaning in, he got close enough so only Harm could hear. "I loved her once, like I haven't loved anyone before. . But, I see that I was loving her for the wrong reasons. I guess you could say, I was loving the wrong woman. . .In any case, because of tat, I don't want any harm to come to her, especially from Palmer who is both our enemy."

Harm bit his lower lip, relenting slightly on any brash comments. "I appreciate all of the help, Clay. . . I just don't want this to come with some sort of price that either of us will have to pay in the long run."

"It won't be, I promise. . . I. . ." The ringing of his cellphone brought his attention away from the Commander and onto the semi-competent agent on the line. "What? Yes. . .yes. Commander Roberts, can you go get the fax?"

"I'll get it." Both Harm and Bud stood, the younger man glancing over at his superior with an odd look on his face.

Bud nodded. "How about we both go , sir? I need a refill of coffee, anyone else in need?" The three other men, Sturgis, Webb and Creswell were currently in no need for extra java.

Harm and Bud headed out of the room, the older of the two stopping slightly to regard the Lt. Commander. "You think I need a baby, sitter, Bud?"

"With all due respect. . . yes." With a half-grin, Bud looked up at his friend. "And there is something you need to see. . .follow me, sir." They walked through the hall and took the stairs down to the JAG bullpen. Harm followed Bud into his office, closing the door behind them. With a sigh, Bud pulled open a drawer and asked Harm to take a seat. "I found these at the Colonel's apartment. . ." Bud placed the photos into Harm's hand with a look of disgust. "Special Agent Gibbs doesn't know I have these. . .You probably shouldn't see them but. . ." He partly didn't know why he took the pictures, they were evidence, something that shouldn't be taken. Bud also knew what sort of damage this would probably do to Harm's delicate emotions. But, he couldn't lie to his friend that way, especially knowing how much Mac meant to Harm.

His hands were shaking as he shuffled through the photographs of Palmer with Mac. Harm took a deep breath, trying to maintain his current mantra: treat this as any other case. Yea, right! "Bastard."

"Sir, I don't think he. . .uh. .did something to her. . . I think he is just trying to screw with your mind." At least he prayed that Palmer didn't physically hurt Mac. Mercifully, they hadn't worked on too many rape cases, but seeing how it affected people, Bud wasn't sure he wouldn't crack himself. Reaching over, he took the photos away from Harm who shot him a look that would kill. "As a friend, Harm, I don't want you driving yourself crazy with these." He sat on the guest chair next to his friend, placing a hand on Harm's shoulder, which was brushed away.

Harm shook his head, taking a breath as he willed himself to stay impartial, but it was too much, and trying to remain strong was killing him. He bit his lower lip, but the tears still came down, his body shuttering as he allowed himself to break down. "Damnit. . . damnit."

Bud placed a soothing hand on his friend's shoulder, squeezing gently as he held back his own tears. Harm never broke down, in fact, he'd never seen him cry, ever. "He's tried to get to you so many times. I don't know why any of us never thought to keep an eye on him."

"No, we didn't. . .and now he found the perfect way to destroy me." He brushed away the tears and took a deep breath. "He went after Jordan twice. . . And both of those times, I thanked God that he didn't go after Mac."

The psychiatrist wasn't a woman that Bud ever thought was 'the one' for Harm. Sure, he seemed happy, but there was a look he shared with the other woman in his life that spoke volumes. Not to mention, Harriet kept pointing out time and time again how 'good' Harm and Mac looked 'together.' "You didn't love Jordan or Annie or Renee, did you?" He was getting personal, more than he ever would.

How was it that everyone saw through his 'love' for other women? "Annie, I fell for years ago, the woman I dated wasn't the same carefree woman I knew once upon a time. . .Jordan was special and Renee. . ." He trailed off, not wanting to say the words or admit to the fact that Renee was just entertainment, a method of payback for Mac's being with Mic. Payback that almost blew up in his face. "Non of them hold a candle to Mac. . I've never felt this way before in my life, Bud. . .I don't think I ever will, ever again. . . I thought I knew about love, but I didn't, not until we got together. . . I can't loose her, Bud, I just. . .just can't."

"We won't let you." Bud assured, vowing not to help out as much as he could. From the semi-silent bullpen, he could hear the ring of the fax and remembered what they had headed downstairs for. "I'm going to go get the fax." Standing, he opened the door and headed through the bullpen to find the fax machine. Another page from the CIA was getting faxed through. He reached into the basket and pulled out the information that had been faxed previously. There was a list of names, people that had gone to visit Palmer during his stay in Leavenworth. Specifically, they were looking for the dates closest to the time he'd switched places with someone else. There, at the bottom of the list were two people – Dr. Nicole Halloren and, a lawyer, Victor Girilli.
. . . . . . . . . .
Brittany - You might be onto something there. ;)

Ink - I wish I could post everyday, but life gets in the way. :( And yea, you'll get a bit more of Mac's sarcasm. ;)

LtJG - LOL! You kill him and now yu'll reuse him! Sheesh! Poor guy. ;)

TomcatGM - Glad your sticking around for it. :) JAG has wasted a lot of good story lines, unfortunately. These last two seasons Boooooooring!

NK - Yep, life tends to do that, doesn't it? ;0 Yea, I thought using 'Harmy' would be amusing. Palmer is such a good bad guy, makes you all warm and fuzzy inside. LOL!

Carby - It amuses me that people got into this one. Is it Palmer? Maybe, you lot are Palmer junkies! ;)

Harmfan - Were there any non's in here? You'll be my non finder! LOL! ;) Palmer's girlfriend is a blond, though with a few tricks, one never knows who she'll end up looking like. ;)

Froggy - Oh Yea! I like that program. How's Harm Clone doing? I had to take mine in the other day, his chip went nuts and all he could do is sit on the sofa pretending it was a tomcat. :Shakes head: nutty really.

JTB - I'm bad? Well, yea, so? ;P She tried to get out, but her limbs are a bit out of it, don't worry at this moment Palmer will keep his hands to himself, Mac's too valuable for him to hurt her.

joanoa - Yea, palmer is a bad guy, but a good bad guy. No death at the moment, still. Lots more story to come!

Cristina - I loved Mark Harmon, "Deliberate Stranger", "Summer School." He's very versitile and only recently has been taken seriously, which sucks. He did a great Bundy. Did you see the show a few weeks back that one of the crew calls him about him going around driving a Yellow VW Bug? HE goes "Do I look like someone that would drivea Yellow VW Bug?" The really amusing part was that he did when he played Ted Bundy in the "Deliberate Stranger" LOL!

XBlue - Ummm, the bomb shelter might not work. / And the straps. . . I cut them, I thought you needed excitement. And HELLO, story? updates? Does Calix need a kick in the six er something?

aserene - Scary really, someone loving the man. :shivers: I think he has the power to turn just about anyone given the right amout of time, which is what he had. ;)

Mac - Not sure what story you are reading, there girl? The "nice" side of Palmer was him fabricating a lie to make the Dr. chic believe him and help him get out of jail. Re-read it. ;)