Ch. 2: A Song from the Past

A couple entered the club. They were seated. The tall Australian man looked around.

"Our contact's late." He observed nervously.

The woman reached over to reassure him. The waiter arrived and asked them for their order. The woman scanned the smoky room while her companion placed their drink order. She caught sight of the piano player on stage. Instantly, she was hit by a wave of recognition. She'd seen him somewhere before.

"Who is that man?" She asked the waiter.

The waiter glanced in the direction she was pointing. "That's Bud, ma'am. He's our piano player."

Mac got up from the table. Mic looked up at her in askance. She placed a reassuring hand on his arm and made her way over to the piano.

Bud closed his eyes while his fingers ran skillfully over the keyboard. As the final chords of 'As Time Goes By' rang out, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and nearly gasped.

Seeing that he recognized her, Mac smiled, "Hello Bud."

"Hello ma'am." Bud replied, shyly as always.

"It's been a long time." Mac remarked.

"Yes ma'am. A lot of water under the bridge." Bud replied without inflection, already turning back to his piano; and wishing that she would go away. If Cmdr. Rabb saw her here, there would be hell to pay.

Bud began playing some ragtime hoping that she would see that he was busy and leave.

"Do you take requests?" Mac asked.

"Yes ma'am. What do you want to hear?"

"You know what I want to hear."

Bud abruptly slammed his hands down on the keyboard and spun around in his chair, a look, something akin to horror, on his face.

"Cmdr. Rabb has ordered me never to play that."

"Please Bud."

"If I do it's my head."

"Play it Bud. For old time's sake."

Bud sighed and turned back to his piano. Praying that the Commander wouldn't be around to hear it. He placed his fingers on the keys and began to play.

Harm had left his office and made his way back down to the bar. Slightly buzzed from all the bourbon, but nowhere near drunk, he grabbed an empty stool and sat down. On the other side of the club lounge he could see Bud talking to some woman, but he couldn't make out who she was.

Harm turned around and was about to order a drink, when his ears were assaulted by a familiar melody. He would have cried out in anguish had he not been so angry. Harm spun round so sharply, his neck nearly snapped. He located the sound. It was coming from Bud's piano. Harm got up from his seat and began stalking towards the piano, with murderous intent on his mind.

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Mac smiled as Bud began to play her song.

"Sing it Bud."

Bud sighed and began to sing, "From the halls of Montezuma…"

Harm came up behind Bud, shouting, "Bud I thought I told you never to play…"

The woman Harm had seen and instantly he found himself face to face with the one woman he never thought he would see again. He had always hoped he wouldn't and had always prayed he would.

"Mac."

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Sorry it took me so long continue the story. More is coming soon