A/N: I know I promised two chapters, but I decided to give you a treat first; more Mac. Now I need to go make adjustments to the next chapter to reflect Mac's early return.

Chapter 12

Mac paused to collect her thoughts before stepping into Jen's office. "Is he available Coates?"

"One moment, ma'am. I'll check," Petty Officer Coates said with a half smile, reaching for the phone. "Admiral, Colonel MacKenzie would like to see you about something. Yes, sir."

At Jen's nod Mac stepped up to the door and knocked. After the Admiral called for her to enter, Mac opened the door and tucked the manila folder she'd brought with her under her arm. Before she could come to attention Admiral Chegwidden waved his hand, took off his glasses, and leaned back in his chair. "What can I do for you Colonel?"

"Sir, I was wondering if I could take some time off? I've got over ninety days on the books."

"Taking a holiday?" AJ asked warily. He was more than aware of Mac's pet project for the last couple months.

"Sort of," Mac was suddenly evasive, shifting slightly in the chair.

"Sort of," AJ repeated, steepling his fingers and looking at Mac over his fingertips. "Mac, you know what you do with your holiday time is your own, within reason…"

"Yes, sir," Mac said unable to meet AJ's gaze.

With a sigh AJ stood up and moved around the desk to sit in the chair next to the one Mac was occupying. "Have you had any luck Mac?"

"Sir?"

"Finding Rabb. I know you've been looking."

"Not really, sir, and that's what's bothering me. He's in the Navy still, I know that. I just can't find him," Mac didn't have it in her to be evasive.

"What's in the folder Mac?" AJ asked, nodding at the manila folder Mac seemed to have forgotten she had.

Opening the folder Mac looked at the single sheet of paper that made up the contents. "When I talked to those airmen that were outside Harm's apartment they mentioned a General. He said the name was O'Neil, but I haven't been able to find any General O'Neil in the Air Force. Admiral, I've even looked for an O'Neil in the Army and the Marines and haven't found anything."

"And the folder?"

"A list of the O'Neils I have found. The closest to flag rank that I've found is a Colonel O'Neil in the Air Force. Some sort of Public Affairs officer; and I can't see Harm working for a man like that. There's three O'Neils in the Marines and five in the Army; none of them of higher than 0-4 rank," Mac said handing the folder over to the Admiral. "I don't know where else to look sir."

AJ almost did a double take as he took the folder from Mac, shocked by how forlorn she sounded. "O'Neil hmmm? Let me take a look at this."

As the Admiral looked over the list Mac let her eyes wander over the Admiral's office. She knew that nothing had changed, but it felt different; the whole office felt different without Harm.

"Hmmm. You only included O'Neil spelled with one 'l'. Eil and Eal."

"Excuse me?"

"One 'l'. You don't have any O'Neils spelled with two 'l's," AJ rubbed the bridge of his nose and got a far off look in his eyes. "There was an O'Neill I worked with when I was with the Teams. Air Force special ops. Good man."

"Two 'l's," Mac repeated thoughtfully. What were the chances that the Admiral actually knew the man Harm was working for. It was then that the germ of an idea began to speak to Mac; had the Admiral been in on Harm's new 'job'?

"Ran into him; must have been eight or nine years ago. Said he was retiring; poor bastard lost his son and it tore him up."

"Could it be him, sir?" Mac asked, suddenly looking at the Admiral closely.

Shrugging, AJ closed the folder and handed it back to Mac. "Could be. There was some scuttlebutt about Jack getting reactivated; but you know what spec ops teams are like, Mac. I've heard less about him since I heard that than I did when he was retired."

"Jack, sir? That was the name that," Mac paused trying to remember the named of the guy who'd been at Harm's apartment. "Jackson, Daniel Jackson said. Jack O'Neill. With two 'l's apparently."

Standing up AJ rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It may be him, it may not be. Why don't you let me put out some feelers, see what I can find out."

"Yes, sir," Mac responded automatically.

"Still want that time off Mac?"

"I do still have to wrap up the Henderson investigation," Mac said thoughtfully. It would be more useful if she actually had something to follow up on when she took her time off.

"I'll let you know when I hear something," AJ sat behind his desk and slid his glasses back on. "And Mac?"

"Yes, sir?" Mac asked as she stood at attention.

"Next time, don't be afraid to ask for help."