Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Early morning

October 17, 2001

Jakarta

Indonesia

The little girl dragged her Marine friend into the bushes as far as she could. Luckily for them, they were on the other side of the building and almost out the door when the explosion went off.

Her friend had pushed her out and only her friend got hurt. "Colonel, I am going to get help. I will be back soon, please be okay." Lilianna had tears running down her face. She was afraid that the Colonel would die before she came back or someone would find her. "I will hurry."

When she left Mac started to move around. 'Where am I? Oh, my head and back hurt so much.' She looked around, but didn't see anything she recognized. Of course she wasn't quite sure what was going on or who she was. She could not remember much of anything. She had a vague memory of a little girl in her room and hearing a man call for Sarah. 'Maybe that was her name, it sounded good anyway.' She thought.

Getting up she turned toward what looked like a building or what was left of one. She headed for some lights that she saw in the distance hoping someone there could help her.

As she got near, she was stopped by a little girl grabbing her arm. "Colonel, you can't go that way. Those men might hurt you. You are American and they are angry with them right now."

"Who are you?"

"Don't you remember? My name is Lilianna, your friend. Are you okay?"

"I don't remember who I am. Do you know me?"

"Yes, I do, and my mother and I will help you. Come with me. I will take you to my home, they won't find you there."

Mac wasn't sure about this, but she had nowhere else to go. It took them awhile and by the time they came to the girl's home the sun had come up. Mac was very tired and sore; she just wanted to go to sleep.

"Lilianna, why have you brought her here? If they find her here we will be punished. She cannot stay."

"But mama, she saved my life. I was shot at and she was the only one to come and help me. I have to help her, she is my friend. Please mama!"

"Okay, just till she rests and has some food, but she must leave and soon."

"Yes mama."

Mac didn't like how Lilianna's mom was looking at her. She could tell from her expression that she was not wanted here. "Lilianna, I think I should leave."

"Oh no, mama said you could stay, but only until you rest and eat. I will help get you to safety. I know a lot and can get someone to help you. Just because I am a little girl nobody thinks I know so much. I can help you."

Mac watched her and wondered what her short life had been like. She really didn't want to have this girl help her and possibly get hurt or get into trouble. But what choice did she have. She knew of no one else, let alone herself.

"Okay Lilianna. I let you help me." She had to put her hand up to stop her from talking. "But only until you find someone that is an adult that can help. Do you understand? I really don't want you getting hurt because of me. I just wish I could remember who I am. Do you know my name?"

"You are a Colonel, but I think you have tags that will tell you what your name is. See..." She said, as she pulled the tags from out of her torn uniform. "I cannot read the writing, my English is not so good, but I am learning."

Mac took the tags and read the name. Frowning at the name as she said it out loud, "Sarah Mackenzie, Lt. Colonel, it doesn't sound familiar at all. Well that isn't true. I do have a vague memory of someone calling for a Sarah. I guess that was me."

"You need to change your clothes and get the scratches on your back fixed. I have an older sister who left a dress you can have. Come with me and you can share my room."

They went up and took care of Mac's back and got the dress on. It was a little big, but it would do. Mac lay down to sleep and wondered not for the first time about what she was going to do.

After an hour of thinking she finally drifted off to sleep.

Saturday

February 8, 2003

Saudi Arabia

For the past two years, Sarah, as she was going by, had traveled across to Malaysia to Thailand to Mayanmar and to Bangladesh where she was able to save enough money for a flight to Saudi Arabia.

She would stop for a day or two to work for food and a room to sleep and then head out the next day. She wasn't sure why she wanted to get to Saudi Arabia, but she just felt the need to go. Like someone calling to her.

She felt that with her coloring and others asking if she was from there and also that she spoke Farsi fluently, that she might have family from there. She also had a memory of an elderly woman that would tell her stories of Iran and taught her Farsi. Sarah assumed it was her grandmother.

She decided when she did get there that she would wear the clothing that they did, because Americans were sometimes not welcomed, and even though she had a slight American accent, she would claim that her family moved there when she was young and she just pick it up.

Looking out the scenery, she wondered if anybody was missing her. If she had family; she knew she wasn't married because Lilianna had said that when they first met, Sarah had told her she wasn't. She couldn't help but to think and feel that there was someone or she would find that someone soon. She just hoped her memory would return. She did come to realize that she knew the time without the use of a watch, which was good because she sold it for the money.

She came to a restaurant where they were looking for help. Sarah told them that she only wanted to work for food and board, which they accepted. They had a room in the back where she could sleep. She decided to stay for a few days longer then she would normally have. She would also be able to keep any tips she received which would come in handy.

Friday

February 14, 2003

1130 Hours

JAG Headquarters

Harm was nerves all day. He was going out to dinner with Meg tonight. He had asked her last Friday. Boy was that ever difficult. He smiled when he recalled how he stumbled his way through.

Flashback:

He had stopped by her apartment Friday night after work. "Hey."

"Hello Harm. Come on in, I would offer you diner, but it's gone now. Sorry." Meg had missed seeing him, even though they just saw each other Wednesday.

Ever since spending Christmas with him and his Gamma, she couldn't wait to spend more time with him. They had so much fun sledding and even making a snowman.

"So, what brings you by? Not a case I hope." She smiled to let him know she was teasing.

"NO, not a case, I ahhhh…well, I was wondering… that is to say…" She had to try very hard not to laugh. Meg had never seen him so nerves before and it was funny. Biting her lips together helped some.

"Oh, this isn't how I imagined asking you out for Valentine's Day." Harm explained running his hand through his hair.

"You're trying to ask me out and on Valentine's Day?" Meg couldn't help but laugh now.

Harm looked hurt; he thought she was thinking this was a joke. When Meg looked up from bending over laughing, she saw how sad and hurt he looked.

"Oh, Harm, I'm sorry. It was just so funny to see the great Harmon Rabb JR. stumble over himself to ask a girl out." She had the smile that made him want to grab her and kiss the life out of her. "I would love to go out with you," she finally said.

He came up to her and grabbed her around the waist. You think it's funny to see me stumble, huh? Well, Miss Austin, I'll show you who stumbles."

With that he started to tickle her. "Okay! Okay!! I give, uncle!"

They fell on the couch laughing so hard. "Boy! That felt good. I haven't laughed that hard since…" He recalled the last time and it was before Mac had died. "I guess it was with Mac. Did I ever thank you for being there for me on her birthday?"

That was the day he finally broke down and cried. He had planned a surprise party for her to cheer her up after Brumby left. He forgot to cancel the reservation at the restaurant, so they decided to have a wake in her memory.

It was a great time and everyone that knew Mac came to it. They told stories of the two and all the times they gave the Admiral indigestion. Tiner even said that he had to take more Tums now that she wasn't here to keep Harm under control. That was what did it. Harm walked out of the room with Meg behind him.

"Yes, you have thanked me, but I would have been there no matter what."

End of Flashback:

"Hey, buddy. You look a little nervous. Wouldn't be for the fact that you have a date with Meg, would it?" Sturgis was just enjoying how he could get to him. It was so easy when it came to Meg.

"Well, what about you? I hear now that Kate is working at the Pentagon, you two are getting serious." Meg had told him about Kate and Sturgis dating.

He was happy for him and Kate; they were good for each other. Him being a preacher's son living the straight and narrow, Kate having lived a little on the wild side. Yeah, they would make it.

Sturgis got this silly little grin on his face and Harm's eyes grew large. "You're going to ask her, aren't you?"

Sturgis pulled out a black box from his pocket and insisted, "And you had better not say a word, buddy."

"Isn't this a little sudden? I mean you have only dating her for what, five months. Why the rush? She not, you know…"

Raising his eyebrows up, he said, "No Harm she not… you know. I am in love with Kate and when you find that one you love you should never let them go. Besides, we have plenty of time to set a date and she hasn't said yes, she just might say no."

"No way man, from what Meg tells me; Kate's going to say yes. Good luck anyway." He got up and shooked Sturgis' hand. "Let me know what she says."

"Sure buddy, but it will be tomorrow." Sturgis smiled and left.

Harm watched him leave and saw Bud and Harriet leaving also. They had been through so much since losing baby Sarah, but they were expecting again and they hoped for the better.

"Well, Mac, I know you're watching over us, please help them get their miracle." With that he got himself ready to leave.

Tuesday

April 8, 2003

Saudi Arabia

Sarah was sitting at a table in the back sipping her tea. She had just finished helping in the market and decided to treat herself to something to eat and drink. The older couple that took her in treated her like a daughter and as such wanted her to be married. Of course she didn't agree, but with the culture as it was she would have to reconsider her options.

As she was sitting there she did not notice that she was being watched. The man kept staring and thought she looked vaguely familiar.

He went to the owner and asked who she was. He had been informed that all they knew was that her name was Sarah and she had no family to speak of and no memory of one. That they took her in as a daughter over six months ago and as such wanted to know his interest in her.

He introduced himself as Faisal Muhammad and said that he thought he knew her and that if she had no family and was not married, that his brother ArmAn Muhammad was in need of a wife. He was on his way to pick him up at the airport.

His brother had a different mother as was the Bedouins way, but ArmAn's mother was an American and at her request wanted him to go to her parents to be educated by their ways so he could return and teach the rest of the family. Now he would return and live among them as it should be.

The shop owner said that Sarah was very stubborn and would most likely refuse, but his wife was there to hear this and made a suggestion. She said that if they told her that she either had to marry someone here, or go and live among his people and eventually marry, that she felt that Sarah might be better persuaded to go and to let Allah lead the way. He agreed and said he would return shortly with his brother.

Sarah was in her own little world trying to put names to the faces from her dreams, but unable to. The owners came up and told her what was to happen.

"Why must I marry at all? I can't even recall any of my past, except I know that I am not married and probably for a good reason."

She didn't like being pressured into doing anything and she just now started to trust these people. 'Well, if I stay then I have to be married, but if I go with Faisal and his brother, I may or may not have to marry.' She was planning to leave anyway and having to go with the men would be easier. Being unescorted in this country was not a good idea.

"Fine but I don't have to like it and you can tell them so." With that she got up and went to pack the few clothes she had acquired.

A few hours later Mahdokht, the owner's wife came to Sarah's room. "I have something I would like you to have. It was my daughters before she was taken from us so brutally. You are like a daughter to my husband and me and we would be honored if you would consider us as your parents. Please understand that we only want the best for you." She would miss Sarah very much. "They are here for you."

She gave her a hug. "Goodbye, my dear one."

"I do understand. I just want to make my own choices."

Looking at the necklace, Sarah wasn't sure about keeping it, but from the look of the woman's face she knew that refusing would hurt her almost as if she lost her daughter all over again. "Alright, thank you for this and for everything that you and Hassan have done for me. I will miss you both very much." She gave her a hug and walked out to meet the men.

As Sarah was coming down the stairs she was able to see two men without them knowing. They were both tall, at least four to five inches taller than her. The older one had dark eyes and hair and had a full beard, where as the other had green eyes and the same coloring as her. He was the most handsome man she had ever recall seeing.

He looked up then and their eyes locked onto one another getting lost in each other's gaze. Only when Faisal cleared his throat did they look away.

She had a faint blush to her checks that ArmAn thought was quite becoming. "You must be Sarah. I am ArmAn Muhammad. I am pleased to meet you. May I say; you are quite lovely?" The last he said in English so as not to embarrass her too much.

"It's nice to meet you. You speak English very well. Where did you learn to speak English?" Sarah had to keep from staring into his eyes. It was like she was coming home for the first time and that really sacred her.

She looked over to Faisal and felt as if she should know him. "Have we met before? Your face seems familiar to me."

"Yes, we have met many years ago, but we can talk all about each other on our way to meet up with my tribe."

Faisal was positive now that this was the same woman that had come with the two men for the American plane that he traded for gold. How had she come to be here and with no memory?

They said their goodbyes and where on their way. Sarah took one last look at her adopted family before joining ArmAn on his horse.