So here is the final chapter. It was done a long time ago (years) but never posted. I apologize to all who waited so long for this.
Fiona
Small Airfield
0415 EST
I wake with a start. Something has woken me up, some sound. I lay very still trying to remember where I am. It all comes rushing back into my memory and I fight off the tears that follow the memories. Alone in a concrete room, I hug the blanket tighter around myself and try to imagine what Harm and Mac are doing right now. They are both worried about me, I know that much. Harm is probably pacing, and Mac probably wants to punch something right now. That something would probably be Harm since he is pacing. That thought makes me smile. A loud sound, almost like an explosion, comes from outside the solitary door on the far side of the room. I shiver wondering what it was.
"Dear God, I know that I haven't always been the best of kids, but please, please, please help me. Help Harm and Mac find me. I want to go home. Please help me." I trail off, unsure of what else to say, but knowing that what I have said is really enough.
Pulling my knees up to my chest I try and relax, forcing myself to do the breathing techniques that Mac has taught to me. I focus on my heartbeat, and my steady breathing, and feel myself beginning to calm down and relax. Ignoring everything but myself I start to feel myself grow sleepy again. I yawn and let my eyes fall shut.
JAG HQ
0430 EST
I hear the alarm go off, but decide to ignore it. It can't be time to get up yet. I think groggily. It stops ringing and I relax into sleep again. Before I can sink all the way back into my slumber the alarm rings again.
'Rings! My alarm doesn't ring.'
I sit bolt upright, trying to place my surroundings, I'm in my office. My phone rings again and the events of the past 24 hours floods back to me. I snatch the phone off the desk and flip it open.
"What do you have for me Clay?"
"Well the remains that we dug up are indeed related. So at this point we believe the person holding Chloe is Maggie Moore." Clayton Webb tells me.
"Thank you. So do you recommend any special precautions during our rescue of Chloe?"
"No just deal with her as a highly dangerous unstable perpetrator and I believe you will be fine. Go get her Harm, bring her safely home." Clay said, with an uncharacteristic softness in his voice.
"I will, and thank you for all your help." I replied. Wow did I just thank Webb without a bit of sarcasm in my voice?
"It is what you would do for me. You need to go get busy now. I will go check up on Mac, if that is okay. Let me know as soon as you have Chloe."
"I will. Tell Mac that she will have her little sister by the time the bugler plays reveille."
"You military people use the strangest euphemisms. I'll tell her for you. Good luck Harm, if you need anything else just call me." Clay hung up the phone.
I stand up from my desk chair my body protesting my every action.
"I'm too old to sleep like this." I mutter aloud.
Leaving my office I stop by and wake both Bud and Sturgis up before going to get Detective Mark Adams and the rest of his staff.
Together we pour over the maps, planning the best course of action to get Chloe back safely. In some sort of act of God everything and everybody are ready to go by 0515 EST.
"Okay, listen up, we only have one shot at this and a little girl's life is at stake. Let's all do this right! You all know what your assignments are, let's do this." Det. Adams leads the way out the door. I take a deep breath and follow.
"Hold on Chloe we are coming, just hold on." I whisper.
Airfield
0550 EST
I can't seem to stop shaking. It isn't because I am cold now it is because I am scared stiff. About 15 minutes ago the loud sounds I heard earlier that sound like explosions started up again, and I can just barely hear what sounds like gun fire. I have heaved the mattress up on its side and pulled it up to the wall leaning against it, forming a small cave for me to crawl into hiding behind it. I know the mattress won't stop a bullet or hide me from whoever comes through that door for long but it is the only thing I can do. I am crouching in a defensive position that Mac taught me and the blanket is pulled over me. Another explosion, this time closer than all the rest, goes off and I feel the wall vibrate. This time I hear the gun fire much more clearly, it has to be coming from right outside the thick door. I peek around the side of the mattress and stare at the door, desperately wanting to know what is going on on the other side while at the same hoping I won't have to know. Suddenly all noise stops; I inadvertently hold my breath waiting for something to happen. I am not sure if it is good or bad that I get my wish and something does happen. The door knob rattles and begins to turn. I dart back, into my cave. It is my only protection from whoever is coming through that door. I hear the door burst open and several pairs of feet walk in. I dare not breathe straining to hear who it might be. From outside the door I hear men yelling and more feet rush past the door.
"Area clear sir!" a male voice booms.
A new set of feet enter the room, and pause just inside the door way. "Chloe!"
Can it be? It sounds like Harm. Scared though I am, I have to see if it is really Harm. Silently I peek around the corner of the mattress, it is Harm! I try to speak up but my voice fails me. I try to stand up but only manage to push the mattress over, my legs seem to be siding with my voice and refusing to work.
All eyes are on me now and Harm rushes over. Before I know what is going on he picks me up and hugs me so hard I don't think I will ever breathe again.
He pulls away and looks at me carefully. "Are you alright, did she hurt you?"
"No, not really. She hit me but that was all." I have to stop talking as a sob over takes me. I hadn't even realized I was crying. Harm just holds me and lets me cry.
Medics come in and tell him that they have to take me to make sure I am okay. I hold tighter to Harm, not wanting to let go.
"I'll take her to the ambulance and ride with her to the hospital." Harm tells them sternly.
They look like they want to argue but Harm ignores them and carries me out of this horrible room.
"Hey look Chloe, the sun is rising." Harm tells me quietly. I look to the east just as the fist rays of the sun spill over into the blazon pinks and oranges of the predawn sky. I have never seen anything more beautiful.
A sudden question pops into my head. Through my tears I ask Harm, "Where's Mac?"
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Room 1121
The door bursts open and Chloe runs into the room like a bat out of hell. I followed after Chloe entering a little more calmly.
"Mac, are you okay?" She plops down on the bed beside Sarah.
"Chloe! The question is are YOU okay?" Mac grabs her hand and holds on for dear life. She raises a hand a gently touches Chloe's cheek, where an ugly bruise shows evidence of her defiance.
"I'm fine, it will heal. I have been hurt worse before, but you, Mac, your head. Are you really okay?"
Chloe has asked the question I have wanted to ask but have been afraid of my marine's reaction if I had asked it.
"I'm fine, it will heal. I have been hurt worse before." Sarah parrots Chloe's words right back at her.
"Wow, ok so now that I know how well those words didn't work, let me tell you Mac I AM okay, or at least I will be. I have never been so scared in my life then when she hit you and came towards me...and then when I woke up and didn't know where I was..." Chloe's voice trails off as she begins to crying again. Sarah pulls Chloe's head down to lie on her shoulder while she runs a comforting hand up and down Chloe's back. Feeling like I am intruding on a sacred moment I begin to back towards the door.
Just as I reach the door Mac catches my gaze and locks eyes with me, mouthing the words 'Thank you' to me. The tears shining in her eyes and the look of gratitude she is giving me is all the thanks I need.
'You're welcome' I mouth back and open the door to exit as she again turns her focus to Chloe.
Two weeks later at Mac's Apartment
"Haaarrmmm! Mac, make him stop!" Chloe cries in desperation as another carrot slice bounces off her forehead.
"Quit complaining, you're just mad because I have better aim than you do!" Harm teases.
"Whatever, you so do not have better aim than I do!"
I look up from my position at the sink washing vegetables and over my shoulder at the two people dearest to me in the world and sigh. They may be dear but they are about at the same maturity level right now...right around age three I think.
"Would you two stop throwing carrots at each other? Just slice them for the salad, don't throw them!" I snap at them, I am doing my best to sound stern but I know I am failing.
"Aw, Mac! We're just having a little fun, and besides I was throwing celery not just carrots." Harm says with that lopsided grin that I claim to be immune from, but melts my soul every time I see it.
"Well you two will have fun cleaning up the kitchen after we eat, then won't you?" I turn away from the sink, the water still running and lean against the counter, folding my arms and give them both a pointed look.
"Gee, Chloe I think she means it." Harm is looking at me but glances over at Chloe from the corner of his eye.
"I think so too. You know Harm I think she may need to lighten up a little, don't you?" Chloe casually takes three or four carrot slices in her hand, looking at me with a wicked gleam in her eye.
"Oh, no. I am fine just the way I am. Besides someone needs to be the adult around here." I half-turn back to the sink, my hand blindly reaching for the spray nozzle behind my back.
"No, I think Chloe is right, Mac. You seem a little uptight. Maybe it is just that you aren't getting enough of your fruits and vegetables recently. I have heard that a meat heavy diet can steal your energy and make you languid." Harm is holding a handful of celery slices, wearing the same wicked looked that is on Chloe's face.
"Don't you dare!" But it is useless to protest, the orange and green missiles are launched from eager hands. I duck and grab the spray nozzle in the same fluid motion. Rounding on them, the spray nozzle going full blast, I successfully drench both of them. They both stand frozen by surprise for a split second. I take that split second to run. I have no where to go in the small apartment but I know that they will want revenge. I laugh as I hear Harm say to Chloe "Oh, it is SO on now!"
As I crouch behind the sofa, waiting to ambush them, I think to myself how wonderful it is to be able to have moments like these. I promise myself to treasure every single moment I have with those I love from now on. Lost in my own thoughts I momentarily let my guard slip unaware of my surroundings. I realize my error at the same moment I feel a large bowl of water being dumped on my head.
"AAAAHHH! Not in the living room! What are you thinking!" I yell at them.
The only response I get from either of them is uncontrolled laughter.
"Well, I guess it is only water." I mutter in defeat, beginning to laugh. Yes I will treasure all of this, even if it is foolishness.
The End