Chapter 12

May 24, 2006
2125 Local

Sophie stared intently at Mac's long index finger. Her eyes crossed slightly as she pulled it closer to her curious little face, forcing Mac to twist her arm at an odd angle to accommodate the rear facing car seat. When it was close enough, Mac wiggled the digit over the baby's nose, producing a surprised blink and a small smile. Sophie then promptly pulled the finger down and into her mouth. Mac laughed, pulling her hand away.

"Mommy might still need that, Sweetpea," she whispered, replacing her finger with the little pink pacifier that had fallen down between Sophie's bottom and the car seat. She held it in the baby's mouth for a few seconds until Sophie had a steady rhythm. Then she patted her blanket covered belly and turned back around in her own seat, checking for any kind of sign of Harm through the dingy front windows of the drug store. It wasn't until they had left Bud and Harriet's that they realized they needed to get a few supplies on their way to Admiral Chegwidden's house, which hadn't been lived in in almost a year.

They probably should have headed out a little earlier, but time had slipped away from even Mac's internal clock. The evening had been a pleasant one, with the former co-workers and friends chatting long after the pizza was gone and the babies were asleep. Tom and Mattie eventually headed home with Damnit, who had taken to her new mistress immediately. As hard as she had tried not to, Mattie cried when they said their goodbyes. Promises were made to have her out to California for a couple of weeks over the summer, maybe have Chloe out at the same time, but the moisture still pooled in the young girl's eyes. And while, undoubtedly, no one else noticed, Mac saw the look on Harm's face that told her he was holding back tears of his own.

Before Sturgis and Tiner bid their farewells an hour later, the two men helped Harm and Bud transfer suitcases from the Roberts van to the Rabb Neon. Mac had tried all night to ignore the uneasiness she felt about staying at the admiral's home. She had begrudgingly agreed with Harm that it was the most logical solution to their temporary boarding problem, and she wasn't going to change her mind now. So after their impromptu welcome home party, they headed to McLean for the night. They would start going through things in the morning, Harriet promising to head over after she got AJ off to school and Jimmy to his day camp.

The shrill ring of Harm's cell phone broke the peaceful atmosphere in the little rental car. Giving a small jump, Mac grabbed it, answering quickly before the unwelcome noise could startle Sophie as well.

"Captain Rabb's phone."

"Sarah?"

"Clay?"

"Where's Rabb?" Uh oh, he sounded impatient and testy.

"Inside CVS. Why?"

"We broke Albina," Webb's voice was grim on the other end of the connection.

"You're kidding." Mac was shocked, though she wasn't sure why. After all, she was the one who first voice concern over the little grandmotherly Italian woman. But to have it confirmed was...outrageous.

"It gets better," Webb continued, his tone of voice throwing a whole new spin on the word 'better'. "She ID'd the man our witness saw outside of Francesca's apartment. We have him in custody at Langley…"

"Wait, where are you?"

"I'm in D.C. Got in this afternoon after I got the call that the driver that Albina was so kind as to identify was caught trying to enter the country via La Guardia Airport."

Before Mac could question further, voices from Webb's side of the line interrupted. She was so focused on trying to decipher the muffled words on the other end that she didn't notice Harm's return until he tapped on the window. She punched a button to unlock the doors for him and waited until he climbed behind the wheel before hitting the speaker button on the receiver and trading him the phone for the bags.

"It's Webb," she told him before he could ask, scanning through his purchases to make sure he got all the essentials. "Albina confessed."

His eyes went wide as he accepted the phone. "To what, exactly?" Before she could answer, Webb's voice could be heard clearly again.

"Rabb?"

"Webb, what the hell is going on?"

"Albina identified our driver as one Omahr Sharaq. Apparently she's familiar with all the thugs who broke into Francesca's place. The head thug is her nephew."

"What?" Harm and Mac asked as one.

"Oh it gets better," there was that word again. "Not only is he Albina's nephew, but he's the son of one Abula Mahlik. Ali Mahlik. His mother is Albina's sister."

Mac looked up at Harm, whose eyebrows had all but disappeared into his hairline.

"It's a heart warming story really," Webb continued, sarcasm dripping from each word, "Albina's family helps Mr. Mahlik smuggle weapons to the Middle East from Libya by way of Palermo. In exchange for their cooperation, he doesn't beat, maim, or murder his wife. When he needed someone to keep an eye on Paul Jordan and his 'family', he sent in the sister-in-law with the child care experience."

"And she saw the picture of Mahlik the night Jordan took it to AJ..." Mac began filling in the blanks.

"And two hours later, Jordan, Francesca, and AJ were dead," Harm finished up bleakly. "So, how'd they know about Paul Jordan in the first place? And what happened to the photo and the documents?"

There was more background noise from Webb's side of the connection as Harm's questions were left unanswered, then, "Listen you two, I'm going to have to call you back. They've got Sharaq in custody and I want to be there when he's questioned-"

"So do I."

"Rabb," Clay warned.

"No, Clay, I want to be there. You can make it happen. Hell, Mac and I busted this case open for you. You owe us."

There were a few seconds of silence, then, "Fine, where are you now?"

"Almost to the admiral's house in McLean. We're staying there the rest of the week."

"Isn't that going to be kind of...creepy?"

"Focus Webb," Harm growled into his phone, ignoring the pointed look Mac shot his way. They heard a long-suffering sigh on the other end.

"Be at Langley in half an hour," Webb groused out. The call was disconnected.

Snapping his phone shut, Harm closed his eyes for a brief second. Mac could almost hear him praying for the strength to deal with Webb. Then he started the car. "Did he tell you where they found this Sharaq guy?" he asked as he pulled out into traffic again.

"La Guardia. I didn't get much more than that before you got back."

"You're okay with me going down there, right?"

She turned to him, surprised at the question. "Of course," she assured.

He nodded his head, then spared a glance in her direction, his gaze quizzical. "Do you want to come? I'm sure she'll sleep through it. Webb might be pissed," he smiled as if the idea pleased him, which it probably did, "but I'll call him back if you want." He raised the phone as if in substantiation of his claim.

Mac looked from the phone to Sophie in the back seat. She smiled when she saw the baby had fallen asleep, her pacifier hanging precariously from her lips. "Four days ago, I would have made the call myself," she looked back to Harm, "but it's not really about me anymore." She leaned across the gap between their seats, kissing his cheek sweetly. "Sophie's had enough excitement for one day," she told him when she pulled back. "I think we'll just settle in for the night. Maybe take a bath. But it means a lot to me that you asked."

He nodded his understanding and reached for her hand, pulling it to his lips to return her chaste kiss. "Alright, well, lets get you two back to the house, and then I'll head out."

Five minutes and twenty-two seconds later Harm was following Mac and Sophie up the front walk of AJ Chegwidden's former home, his arms laden with suitcases and baby paraphernalia.

Dropping everything in the livingroom, he glanced around the house before his eyes fell on Mac. "Do you want me to help you get settled?" He went to grab the travel crib, but Mac beat him to it.

"We'll be fine. She's asleep now anyway, so I have some time to get organized. Go," she made a 'shoo'ing motion with her hands, "find out what the hell happened in Milan two weeks ago. Sophie and I will be here when you get back."

Harm gave her a small smile, his lips pressed together in determination. He leaned over for one more quick kiss and a whispered, "Thank you," before heading back out to the car.

Mac looked around the quiet livingroom, wrapping her arms around herself to ward off a sudden chill. Great, she thought, not only am I stuck in this house, but I'm stuck in it alone. She knew she was being silly, but the large home felt so...cold and empty. Shaking her head, she began setting herself and Sophie up for the night.

She was just reaching for the travel crib when she heard an unhappy mewling sound coming from the car seat on the floor by the couch. Tiptoeing over, she saw the little girl's face was twisting up in her sleep and her head was jerking back and forth. Her empty mouth was pouting up, reaching for something that wasn't there. Immediately recognizing the problem, Mac reached down into the depths of the infant seat and successfully pulled the missing pacifier out from under the baby. She rubbed it on Sophie's lips, popping it in as soon as her mouth opened, and watching as she settled down instantly, never once opening her eyes.

It only took a few minutes for the marine to assemble the crib in a spare room upstairs- there was no way she was sleeping in the admiral's room- and unpack hers and Harm's things. After laying Sophie down in the baby bed, set to it's most shallow level, and switching on the baby monitor they had wisely remembered not to ship to California, Mac wandered into the kitchen and began looking for a coffee maker. She wanted to try to stay awake in case Harm called. That task accomplished, she decided that the most productive way to kill some time would be to start sorting out some of AJ's things.

She started in the office off of the livingroom and began throwing away old newspapers and magazines. Once that was done, she began searching the house for boxes to pack up some personal items that she wanted to hold onto for Sophie.

Her hunt eventually led her to the attached garage where she spotted some Stor-All boxes in the far corner. Intent on grabbing the boxes and getting back inside the house, Mac failed to notice the red gas container in her path until it tripped her up. She caught herself on the lawn mower next to the can before she could fall, and cringed at the smell that assaulted her nose. Realizing she must have spilled some of the fuel, she made a mental note to have Harm dispose of the gasoline and clean up the mess in the morning. Snatching the boxes, she headed back into the house.

She worked for an hour, managing to clear out the office of everything but the furniture, before Sophie's cries filled the room via the baby monitor. Mac pulled herself up from her seat on the floor and headed up the steps. Ten minutes later, she was resting in an easy chair in the practically empty office, feeding Sophie.

"Something tells me your not planning on going back to sleep anytime soon, huh?" Mac smiled as the baby gazed around her with wide eyes. Of course, never once did she give any indication of slowing down on her bottle. "That's okay," Mac reached down and took a little tiny hand in hers and brought it up to her lips for a kiss, "Mommy could use a break from all of this for a while."

After her supper, Sophie and Mac played on the floor for a while. They had 'tummy-time', an activity that Harriet had suggested. She'd said that it would help strengthen her muscles as well as teaching Sophie to roll over, and eventually to crawl. "Plus," the mother of four added knowingly, "if you get her use to being on her belly now, she won't scream like a banshee when she starts rolling onto it on her own and can't get back over."

Mac also spent some time carrying Sophie around the house, introducing her to her grandfather's home. She narrated the tour like a professional guide, wandering from room to room and halting their trek occasionally when she knew the story behind a certain picture or memento. As impossible as Mac realized the idea was, Sophie almost seemed to understand how meaningful the reminiscence was for herself and her new mommy. She was somber and attentive through the entire process.

An hour later found Mac in the bathroom, Sophie in her carrier on the floor, watching as her mommy filled the tub.

"My dear," Mac said as she pulled her long, dark hair high on top of her head, "you are going to learn at a very young age how to appreciate a good bath."

Checking to make sure the water was warm enough for her, but not too hot for the baby, Mac began undressing herself, then her daughter. Once finished, she held Sophie securely in one arm and used the other to balance herself on the wall as she stepped into the tub. She gently lowered herself into the water, turning Sophie around so they faced each other. Then, pulling her knees up and planting her feet on the bottom of the bathtub, she sat the baby's bottom on her stomach; Sophie's tiny form now reclined against Mac's legs.

Sophie's eyes widened at the initial shock of the water, and Mac held her breath, waiting to see if a scream of displeasure was going to follow. It didn't however, so Mac relaxed back against the tub and began dancing her fingers on the water's surface in front of Sophie, splashing fat drops onto the baby's belly and chest. She wiggled gleefully, a wondrous smile on her round, chubby face.

"See," Mac picked up a soft washcloth and the baby wash from the floor next to the bathtub and began lathering it up, "didn't Mommy tell you that you'd like this?" Sophie squealed when she slapped her own hand down into the water and sprinkled herself with droplets.

She washed Sophie from head to toe, careful of her eyes and ears, before rinsing her off. Then, lifting the baby up out of the water, she extended her arms all the way before bringing them down and blowing a raspberry on Sophie's belly, smelling her fresh Baby Magic scent. Mac spent a few more minutes laughing at Sophie, playing peek-a-boo and patty cake and simply enjoying bath time together, before finally climbing out of the tub and wrapping a large bath towel around herself and the baby.

Pulling the plug out of the drain as she left, Mac carried the little girl down the hall to the bedroom. She closed the curtains before dropping the towel on a chair in the corner and spreading a blanket out on the bed. After Sophie was wrapped warm and snug, Mac turned toward the bureau and slipped into a pair of underwear and a sports bra. Sufficiently covered for the moment, she grabbed the baby lotion, some baby powder, a diaper and a sleeper and set about the task of getting Sophie ready for bed.

She was just pulling up her own sweatpants when Sophie began fussing. The little girl was getting sleepy, her eyes drooping low and her head moving around restlessly.

"Hey Sweetpea, I think it's time for bed." Picking her daughter up, she began swaying back and forth, her eyes shooting around the room in search of that magical pacifier. Sophie's fussing was quickly becoming full-blown crying; nothing like that morning at the apartment in Italy, but still unpleasant none-the-less. Remembering that the last two times she'd found the elusive baby plug it was in the car seat, Mac headed back toward the bathroom.

"You know young lady," Mac said calmly to the wailing infant, "someday, you and I are going to have a little talk about something we grownups like to call 'addiction'. Can you say ahh-ddiction?" Sophie just continued to howl.

Back in the bathroom, Mac squatted down in front of the carrier and began rooting around the seat with her free hand. She pulled off the blanket, burp cloth, and baby clothes she'd tossed there earlier. Reaching in between the cover and the lining, she prayed her hand would come back with the priceless piece of plastic and rubber.

"This thing is like a black hole," she muttered to herself, followed by an, "Ah hah!" as she pulled the pacifier out triumphantly. She held it to Sophie's mouth until the baby recognized it's soothing presence and settled down.

Mac moved to stand up when something caught her eye. She leaned forward slightly, still balancing herself and Sophie on the balls of her feet, and turned the car seat to the right. Her finger brushed over the gap between the lining and the plastic casing of the seat. Sticking her finger in to the first knuckle, she ran it up the side from the bottom, where the small gap appeared, all the way up to the head of the contraption. The seam gave easily, apparently having been separated before and then tucked back into place, but never mended. Pulling the lining back and to the side, Mac's eye's widened when she glimpsed a large yellow envelope molded to the plastic base of the carrier. She lowered her knees to the ground and sat back on her heels, rubbing her hand over her mouth.

"Well, Miss Sophie…what have you been hiding?"

She looked down to her daughter, but the little girl was already fast asleep, completely oblivious to her mother's discovery or it's possible significance.

Picking up the car seat with her free hand, Mac took it back to the room with them. After putting Sophie down in her crib, Mac sat on the bed and pulled the large envelope from it's hiding spot.

She unwrapped the string from the tab slowly and opened the top, reaching her fingers in to pull out the first piece of paper, which turned out to be a photograph. She stared for a few seconds, hardly believing that she was most likely looking into the eyes of the terrorist known as Abula Mahlik.

Mac bit her lip. She set the picture down carefully, as if it were a bomb ready to detonate. Pulling the next item half way out of the envelope, she knew immediately that she was holding documented plans for an attack on U.S. troops in Libya. She stuffed the papers back in the envelope hastily and snatched the picture up, studying it as she stood up and headed for the door.

Mac checked on Sophie and the baby monitor as she passed by them. She needed to call Harm, and she needed Sophie to stay asleep while she did it. With the picture still clutched tightly in her hand, she hurried to the kitchen to retrieve her cell phone.

A strangely familiar smell assailed her senses instantly at the bottom of the stairs. She took a few steps forward and sniffed again. Before she had time to evaluate the source of the odor, she felt the air at the back of her neck move swiftly, violently, tussling her hair. Then came the blinding pain as something connected with her skull. She fell forward onto her knees, her vision already beginning to blur and darken around the edges. Her mind was screaming at her that the scent she detected was the gasoline from the garage, but her consciousness was already too far gone to react. The last thing she felt, as her body slowly slipped to the floor and blackness swallowed her, was the picture of Mahlik being ripped from her fingers.

TBC