Hey Gang! Sorry for the delay with this one but both me and V (our wonderful beta-reader) have been BUUUSSY. Good news though, I got my license! Yay! Anyway, hope all is well and everyone is safe this Memorial Day Weekend. :)

Enjoy!

Jackie

PART 24 – Dealing With The Devil

March 27, 2010
1030 Local
Mac and Harm's House
San Diego, California

"Mmmm." Lazily, Mac stretched out in the bed, then rolled over feeling. . .nothing. The sheets themselves weren't even warm. Harm had to have been up for a quite a while. She got out of bed and headed into the bathroom, grabbing a pink satin robe which she cinched before heading out of the room. Smells of coffee and food assaulted her senses. She quickly came down the steps and headed to the kitchen, propping herself up on one of the stools under the kitchen bar. "Mmm, you're a little over dressed for breakfast, dontcha think?"

Harm was wearing grey slacks and a white dress shirt with its sleeves rolled up. His sports jacket hung at the back of one of the dinning room chairs. When he turned around she noted his tie, which was undone, the top buttons of his shirt were as well. He eyed her with interest. "Or, maybe you are a little underdressed?"

Feigning shyness, she took one side of the robe and closed it a little more covering the little swell of her breast that was exposed. "Thought you liked me underdressed?"

Chuckling with earnest, he turned to the coffee pot, took her mug and his and filled them both with coffee. "Actually, I just like you completely naked." Turning around, he grinned evilly and slid a mug in front of her. "But, underdressed will do for now." Leaning across the bar he kissed her softly, then returned back to the eggs and bacon on the skillet.

"If I can have a little leeway, your honor, I'll clarify." She stated to no one in particular and then, "Where are you going, Captain?" Instead of answering, he commented on the fabulous weather and the tide. When the hell did he ever care about the tide? "Witness is being unresponsive. .. Permission to. . ."

"Maaaac." He whined out, dishing up two plates which he took with him to the dinning room table. "Do you want juice as well?"

"Haaaaaaarm. . .If you want to throw me off of the scent, try better bait." She pointed out, sliding into her designated chair. "Yes, juice will be fine, thanks." Upon his return to the table, she sweetly leaned in, running a finger down his cheek. "So, where are you going?" Hey, she was willing to try all tactics possible.

Harm shook his head and grinned, the woman was driving him crazy, but what a ride. "Need a hair cut and a shave. . .a close shave." He said, scrubbing his hand over the beard that he'd trimmed slightly, but still needed a professional to get rid of. "It itches."

"Hmmm." She nodded, places that he had kissed did itch, somewhat, still she thought he looked attractive. Mac still wanted her clean cut, flyboy back, but this was a nice change, "You look cute though."

"Cute? Mac, I look like a drug addict. . ." He said, taking a bite out of his eggs.

"A sexy drug addict." Mac pointed out with a grin. "Never thought you were the type to dress up for a meeting with the barber though, Mr. Rabb. . .Must be one hell of a place if you need to get all spiffied up."

Sighing, he reached under the table and to a vacant chair, raising up the morning paper. "I'm going to Coronado, have a little chat with Hewitt." He pointed at the top story in the local news, an article that stated Hewitt was back in town for a fund raiser of sorts.

"Harm, that isn't a good idea."

"I'm going, Mac." He knew she would protest and already resigned to the fact that no matter what she said, he was going to settle this.

Mac pinched the bridge of her nose. This weekend had been a honeymoon of sorts, a way to get back in touch with him. Subconsciously, she knew she'd been trying to avoid the problems that lay ahead. Ignoring things never made them go away. "At least let me go with you."

Harm shook his head. "No, Mac. . .You talked to Hewitt alone. . .This is my turn."

Despite herself, Mac knew too well that when Harmon Rabb Junior had his head in something, he wasn't going to get out of it easily. With a defeated sigh, she gave in. "Fine. . .but be careful and get back as quickly as you can. . .I didn't like the terms she set out for me."

"What's she going to do, Mac? Kill me on the way in?"

She doubted that aspect of it all, Hewitt needed to keep her hands clean. But God only knew what stunts both Vic and Hewitt would pull to get what they wanted. "Just, be careful."

1220 Local
Secretary of the Navy
Caroline Hewitt's Mansion
Coronado, California

A burly man, dressed in a sharp business suit, with a not so concealed bulge under his right arm, descended the steps to the foyer. "Captain Rabb, Madam Secretary has been expecting you."

Harm didn't comment on the oddity of that statement. How the hell would she know he was coming, unless Mac's theory about Haslinger was true. "Well, we mustn't leave Madam waiting, must we?"

"Not so fast." The man shook his head and brought his arms out to the side, signaling that Harm should do the same. "Stand up against the wall and don't you dare move." He brought out a handheld metal detector and waved it over Harm's body. When he waved the machine over the left side of Harm's chest, it beeped rather loudly. "What do we have in here?" Patting Harm down, he reached a hand inside the breast pocket and pulled out a cellphone, which he slipped into the pocket of his trousers. "Can't have that, can we."

Snorting, Harm shook his head in disbelief. "No, God forbid I make a phone call." The guard stepped into the living room, waving him along. He fell in step with the guard, his eyes scanning the home's oddities on display. It had a very masculine feel to it, strange with Hewitt's gung ho attitude about women in power. Then again, what was he looking for? Pink wallpaper?

"Right through here, follow the hallway to the door. . .her office is just inside."

Arriving to the door, he wrapped his knuckles against it twice, then waited. His patience, as he waited yet a little longer, wasn't quite rewarded. When the door opened, one Lieutenant Commander Gregory Vukovic stepped out. Harm shouldn't have been surprised to see him, but he barely stifled a gasp. Looking the man up and down, he found him in comfortable civilian attire, definitely not the type to wear when you were visiting someone like Hewitt. Then again, he was her son. "Captain, sir. . .then again, we're out of uniform. . .It's Harm isn't it?"

Biting down on his inner cheek was the only thing that prevented a witty come back. "No, Commander, I'd prefer it if you called me by my rank, uniform or not." Harm smiled that charming smile of his and excused himself as he stepped around Vic. Still smiling at Vic, he closed the door on his face, then turned to address Hewitt. "Ma'am. . .may I take seat?"

Hewitt had watched the interaction between both men with great interest. It was keenly obvious, at least to her, that Vic was afraid of Harm, though he'd told her otherwise when she'd asked. It was in his body language, the way his shoulders stiffened. Now, being in the same room with the six foot four - tall, dark and screw handsome, the man was downright sexy – she understood. "Yes, Captain, please have a seat." It surprised her how the air in her office changed dramatically. It was almost as if the atmosphere knew he'd entered her domain. She'd read all about Harm, his success in the courtroom and as a pilot. There probably was very little that he ever did wrong.

The way he sank into that chair, slow and so sure of himself, just capitalized what Hewitt already knew. This was a man on a mission. "I was expecting you, Captain. . .I just didn't think you'd come in so calmly or nicely dressed."

Harm chuckled without emotion, then sat back in the chair comfortably, crossing his leg over his knee. "I would have come in uniform, but it's at the cleaners. . .And can you please clarify how you knew I was coming? Let me guess, Dr. Haslinger contacted you?"

Hewitt shook her index finger at him and grinned. Jesus, they really didn't have a clue did they? "No no no, I haven't spoken to Haslinger. . .Let's just say I had a. . .hunch."

Or someone spying on Mac he thought, but let it slide, he was here to grind an axe of a different kind. "I'm going to cut to the chase . . . I know about the offer you made Colonel MacKenzie, I know that Vukovic is your son and I know that you tried to have me killed." To his surprise, Harm couldn't understand how the hell Hewitt wasn't shocked at his accusations. He was going to call her on it, but Hewitt was faster.

"Why do you assume it was me that tried to have you killed? I did nothing of the sort." Sighing dramatically, she stood and walked across the room to a small bar, pouring herself a whiskey straight. "I needed you out of the way, yes. . .but I figured you'd wind up at sea and become one of the latest tragedies without our assistance."

"Why is it that you want me out of the way, exactly? I'm of no threat to you. In fact, if you left Mac alone, I have no reason to bother with either of you."

Laughing, she turned fully to him. "You certainly are a cocky one, aren't you, Captain? No reason to bother with us. . ." She laughed some more, then walked back across the room and slid into her chair. "Gregory loves the Colonel. . .as far as I am concerned, you are in the way. . .But, putting that aside. . .What would you have told her, what would your advice have been when she told you what I was offering?"

Brow raised in question, Harm slid to the edge of the chair, resting his elbows on his knees. "That it was up to her. . .If she wants to be the JAG, I'd stand by her."

"Just like that?"

His smirk was a telling indication that it wouldn't be quite that simple. "I would tell her to be leery of you. . .Then again, that's a position that you put yourself in, ma'am. You can't say you've acted properly for a person in your office."

"Seldom do in politics, Captain. . .You should know that, you've dealt with enough of us."

Harm's gut feeling told him this was going to go in circles until he got a good read of what her intentions were. Why was Mac so important out of every woman in this world? "Why Mac? Why not anyone else?"

"Gregory chose her." She said simply, without preamble. It was the bona fide truth that began over five years ago in Falls Church. "When you met Gregory, I'm sure you heard that General Cresswell was quite pleased with his lawyering abilities."

What lawyering abilities? Harm wanted to scream at her, but bit his tongue. "The General seemed to think that Vukovic walked on water, but needed a little tutelage. He chose Mac to be his mentor, I guess he figured that as a Marine she would do the best job."

"Hmmm." Hewitt nodded then took a sip of the whiskey. "I love my son, Captain, but you've worked with him so you do know how shitty of a lawyer he is." The surprised look on his face made her chuckle. Damn, this was fun. "I was a Senator at the time with my eyes on the SECNAV's chair. . .Gregory was sent in to JAG to spy for me. . .To find enough ammo to take Sheffield off of his gilded perch. . .Unfortunately, it didn't work. . .And yet, maybe it did because, here I am." She stood again, returning to the bar where she poured herself another drink. This whole MacKenzie business was driving her insane, alcohol seemed to be the one thing that kept her wits about her. It was also giving her loose lips. . .very loose lips. "Gregory saw potential in Colonel MacKenzie. It wasn't until he was stationed here in San Diego with her that I realized I had who I needed to win the Presidency. See I have advisers, Captain. Good advisers. They all tell me that if I go up against a very male institution like the Navy, or the Military in general, and vie to put a female in a top billet, it would hike up just a few more votes. The woman has power, more than she can imagine. . .Men respect her. . .women want to be her. . .it's that edge that I need to bring down this boys' club crap that you call the Navy. It has to end, it's not working anymore."

Aha, so there was a hidden agenda and, she was right, it would serve her the Presidency on a platter. The last two Presidents had made a mockery out of the military in general. Their inability to permanently silence terrorist threats had made them the laughing stock of the world and given them the title of 'Blood Hungry, War Mongers.' To top it all off, the instances of females having trouble fitting in were escalading. Either you played like one of the boys or you were tossed out on your ass. In London, he'd seen a good half a dozen cases like that, women with grievances looking for a fair deal and not getting it. Despite changes in regulations and all of the extra classes officers had to receive on gender norming, things really hadn't changed. It was still a boys club and it would always be. Not that Harm approved, hell, he knew better than most how tough women could be. His girlfriend was a prefect indicator. Damnit, but this was insanity. Yes, things needed to change, but how? And if it were going to change, it should be by those in the service who truly knew how things worked and didn't work. "I get it now. . .You challenging the Navy directly on its alleged unfair treatment of women will get you the candidacy?"

"Fathers, mothers, brothers, sons, daughters, feminists, activists, there's always a group needing a hero to protect those that they love. Hell, Captain, how many women out there served for years and never got the commendation they deserved? Just take a walk around Arlington next time you're out there."

"You know, your idea would be a noble one if it wasn't because you were doing it just to gain something for yourself." He sighed deeply, then pinched the bridge of his nose. "So you would back the Colonel up seeing as it would be an occasion to mark history. . .The first female Judge Advocate General."

"My numbers would go up just by the thought of it."

"And what if she isn't selected?"

Hewitt shrugged. "I know how it works, Captain. .. the probability of her making it is nil. . .she's not even the proper rank, nor will she be by the time the selection board meets this year."

"So Mac was right, the reason why you offered her the job was to bribe her into throwing Vic's case."

A sick, sadistic grin spread across Hewitt's lips. Ah, pity she knew all of this was coming, would have been fun to attack him without any extra ammo. "I see a fine match between the Colonel and my son, don't you?"

Harm laughed out loud, the thought of Mac with Vic was just too ridiculous to be plausible. "Don't tell me you honestly think she'll get together with him. . . I mean, you're joking aren't you?"

For a moment, it seemed like she'd actually sobered up. "I most certainly am not, Captain. . .She would be quite a match for him. . .Maybe straighten up his insecurities a little?"

"Insecurities? Is that what you call it when he raped the woman that left him at the alter?" Had she been standing closer to him, Hewitt would have certainly slapped him. As it was, he was half expecting her to chuck that glass at his head.

Her nostrils were flaring like an angry bull, that had been a low blow, even lower than the types that she threw. Then again, she had something up her sleeve, a hit that would cause a severe chink in Captain Rabb's armor. If there was one thing that scared everyone was the abuse of their privacy. Calmly, she went around her desk and walked to a wall that had a massive painting of what appeared to be an Irish countryside. "You asked me earlier how it was that I knew you were coming?" She didn't turn to him when she spoke, merely watched as the painting disappeared and a plasma tv took its place. "Watch. Listen. Soon you will learn why you don't fuck with me, Captain."

Amused with the turn of events, Harm stood up and walked closer to the screen, enabling to see things just a little better. Five split screens appeared, each with video footage of someone's home. Upon closer inspection he realized that wasn't just anyone's home – it was his – theirs – his and Mac's. "Jesus Christ." He said under his breath as a replay of their activities on Friday night came into full view in black and white. The top left screen was a shot of the living room and dinning room. The one to the top right was the back deck. The center screen had a shot of the kitchen while the lower left side was the office, and the last one pointed directly to their bed.

"Hmmm." She scanned all four screens carefully, then turned to Harm. "I can show you a few interesting things." She pressed a button on a remote and on the center screen a view of Mac holding a bottle of vodka came into view. "She's an alcoholic isn't she? At least, that's what Gregory told me."

Harm swallowed hard, his throat drying badly with every passing second. He felt so horrible, so hurt that he wanted to cry. Oh God, Mac. "This can't be real. . ." But, then again, he had found her with a vodka bottle that night. And the taste of the bitter liquor on her lips. He sucked in a breath of air.

Smirking, Hewitt pressed a button and the screens shifted, the one in the middle switching with the shot of their bedroom. "Oh, how about this?" Pressing a few more buttons, she rewound the footage and then pressed play. An image of him with Mac straddling his waist came into view. Sounds of pleasure filled the office. "We have a lot more, though this is my favorite. . .I've never been one to cry during sex."

It had been the night which he came back. "You bitch." Out of their own volition, the tears which had filled his eyes slipped out, cascading down his cheeks. For the first time in a long time he felt truly vulnerable and wounded. Angrily, he wiped the tears away, then stood toe to toe with Hewitt, his six foot four frame towering over her five foot six one. "I'm not going to stand for this. . .I'm bringing you down." Turning, he made to run out of the place, to find the first person who would listen to him and Mac. But, her words stopped him cold.

"You do anything, Captain and I'll make certain the Colonel is miserable every day of the rest of her pathetic little life." When he turned to face her, she pointed back at the chair. "Have a seat. . .that's an order."

His jaw was clenched so hard, he could feel the pain running up his teeth and into his head. Harm should have continued, ignored her threat and done the right thing, but he couldn't. Mac's life depended on him finding out the truth and he would. He had a whole PI team he could bank on. "Why are you doing this to her?. . .If you want her so much, this. .. all of this isn't going to win Mac over."

"No, but you are." She pointed at him, then pressed stop on the video footage and lowered the painting back over the screen. "As long as you are around, I know Mac won't do a damned thing I say. . .She's got this loyalty to you that, really. . .it's nauseating."

"It's the same loyalty I have to her. . ." He swallowed hard once again. Her words about him being in the way struck a severe cord. He had to apologize to Mac for not fully believing that Vic could have gotten to Arjan. "So, what are you going to do to me? Lock me back up under Haslinger's sadistic care? Send me on some other suicide mission? I know you won't put a bullet on my brain, that's too traceable. . .Shit, why don't you just toss my sorry ass off of the starboard side of carrier."

Hewitt rolled her eyes, his dramatics were really silly and entirely unnecessary. "No Captain. . .Unlike my son, I don't see the reasons to end your puny little life. . .But, I will make a trade with you. . .Break up with her. Leave her and I will promise that she'll get everything she deserves in life. . .Everything and more."

"You're absolutely out of your mind, Hewitt."

"Am I?" Shakes her head. "No, I am just a mother doing what's right for her son. . .You're a parent, Captain, you should know all about that."

"I know that Mattie would loathe me if I did something like this. . .No matter what she gained from it."

"Oh please!. . .You give her the world on a platter, do you think she cares what it took you to get it?"

"She would care." He raised his hands up. "Whatever psychotic idea you have planed isn't going to work. I'm not going anywhere and don't try to dangle Mac like a carrot in front of me. . .If you need her so much, you aren't going to touch a hair on her head. . .As for me, I don't give a damn if you kill me or not."

Ah, the noble approach! When she heard about Harm's Knight in Shining Armor complex, she would never have thought that it went this far. "I need her, but I don't need you, your daughter or your mutual friends. . .A lot of bad things can happen to people you love. . .people you both love. . .Now, I certainly think that the Colonel will stop loving you, if she found out you were responsible for the murder of her godchildren."

Harm's eyes widened in shock. "You wouldn't. . .They have nothing to do with. . ."

"I would. . .You have no idea how much I love the taste of victory and nothing is taking it away, Captain. . .Nothing. . .So, are you going to take my deal or not?"

This had become a game of Russian roulette with the Devil and his minions. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Harm brought his hands over his face, his palms resting against his forehead. Jesus Christ, what had he done? "If I. . .break up with her." The words sounded horrible coming from him, it left a bitter taste in his mouth. "What assurances do you have that she'll do what you want."

"Ah, now that's the best question you've asked all day." She went back to the screens, rewinding a pressing play on the image of Mac in the kitchen with the bottle of vodka. "She loves you, that's blatantly obvious and, without you, it doesn't seem like she can function well, does it?" The one key thing that would have to happen was for Mac to give in willingly and if that didn't, she'd knock the Marine down to the ground and build her right back up. Turning to Harm she saw him looking away from the screen in disgust. Good. "LOOK at the screen, Captain!" She yelled, then smiled at him as he turned. "She'll be vulnerable, will need someone to talk to, to understand her. . .She certainly won't go to your mutual friends, they're married with kids or too young to understand. . .So, she'll be alone. . .and we'll be there to pick up the pieces."

"If she doesn't kill. . ." No! He couldn't think like that. No matter what happened, Mac wasn't the type to take her own life. But, what if. . .what if she was pushed to the edge like Arjan was? What then? The options were being weighed precariously in his mind – Mac's life or his godchildren's and his daughter's? How did it ever come to this? "I'll do it. . .but first you need to promise me one thing."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Hewitt, against her better judgment, agreed. "Okay, Captain. . .one thing."

"Time." It was all he really needed and the one thing that never really seemed to be on their side. Maybe this time, it would change? "I need time. . .To think."

Hewitt nodded. "Alright, Captain. . .I can afford you. . .one week. . .After that, I'll need an answer." She watched Harm as he stood dejectedly, "Oh, and Captain, this better not be a trick."

"This isn't a trick. . .Your holding the life of my family in your hands. . .I just can't sit around and watch Mac run to another man's arms, I've done it before. . .So I'm going to use the time to find something to do in this Goddamned Navy you have such a problem with." He stalked to the door and threw it closed behind him. If she thought he was going along with her plans, she was insane. Maybe the key lay in the last thing he said? Maybe it was time to find something else to do to keep himself occupied. Or, at least, make it look like he was. Damn, talk about an Oscar performance.