Office of Commander Richard Michaels

Commander Michaels sat behind his desk with his hands clasped together, and resting just above his belt. He looked up as Harm approached, but didn't stand. He looked haggard. Harm recognized the hint of personal grief etched within the lines of stress that were always present when a CO lost someone under their command.

"I expect you're here to about the mishap at Fenway." He said, in a slow drawl that told Harm immediately that he wasn't a native of the Boston area.

"Yes, I am." When Michaels didn't outwardly respond, he plodded on. "I'd like to just start with the basics. How many officers did you commission to participate in the air show?"

"Four." Came his clipped reply.

Harm matched his tone. "Names?"

"I sent my two best teams, Mercer and Hart, and Williams and Logan."

"And Williams and Logan were picked to do the fly over at Fenway?"

"That was up to them. I'm suspecting they flipped for it."

Harm nodded, and explored further. "What kind of pilot was Lieutenant Williams?"

At his question Michaels looked up. Harm mentally noted the twitch in his jaw muscle. "She was exemplary. I've never seen, nor will I probably ever see again, a pilot of her age who could match her skills." He gave Harm a wry look. "Except for maybe you Commander." Harm raised his eyebrows in surprise. He was about to ask how Michaels knew that one way or the other, but he beat him to the punch. "News travels quickly." Was all the explanation he gave. It was enough.

Harm cleared his throat. "What kind of officer was Williams on the ground?"

"Excellent."

"No flaws?" Harm probed.

"No."

"How much do you know about her personal life?"

Michaels shifted. "You mean day to day? Not a whole lot more than is in her file. She has no family to speak of. Her mother died when she was in her second year at Annapolis. She is…was…" He paused as if searching for the proper term. "…private. Didn't let many people in."

Once again Harm noticed his discomfort. He mentally made a note to check further into any affiliation Michaels may have had with Williams. Michaels's voice broke through. "Have you spoken to Logan yet?"

"My partner is on her way to speak to him now." Harm replied.

Michaels nodded. "Good." Harm's eyebrows rose at his tone. He continued. "If you want to know about Williams, talk to Logan."

"What was the nature of their relationship?"

Michaels snorted. "Indefinable." He ran a hand through his hair. "At first I fought them on it, but soon enough I realized that separating them only made things worse."

"So, they were romantically involved?"

Michaels let out a laugh. "No Commander, that would be definable wouldn't it. I don't know how else to say it, but they…come as a set." Grief stole over Michaels' face once more. "Or at least, they did."

Harm gave an understanding smile. "I know exactly what you mean."

Naval Base

Mac headed toward a sullen form sitting on a bench in one of the common areas of the base. She knew almost instinctively, that it was William Logan. When she approached he didn't acknowledge her, didn't look up. He just sat, picking the petals from a daisy one by one and watching them float from his fingers to the ground. She cleared her throat rather loudly, and his head sprang up a moment before he was on his feet and at attention. Mac smiled sympathetically, she felt for him in his obvious grief. She pulled her handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to him.

"At ease."

He took the handkerchief thankfully, and wiped the tears from his face. "I apologize Ma'am, I didn't see you."

"That's okay. May I sit down?"

He glanced down at the bench, and then scanned their surroundings. "Would you mind if we walked instead?"

"Sure." She warmed to William Logan immediately. There was a quiet, strong way about him, that called to her. Much like Harm only more subdued. Perhaps, like Harm with a broken heart? She shook herself from that train of thought. Before they began to walk she introduced herself. "I'm Colonel Mackenzie. My partner and I are here investigating the accident at Fenway Park."

"Accident?" He asked.

"Lt. Logan, do you have information that proves otherwise?"

"No Ma'am, I'm just surprised. Usually the lawyer types want to blame it on terrorism right off the bat. Especially now days."

"Well it's too early in the day to be that pessimistic. We prefer to think of it in the best terms possible, until we find out otherwise."

"I appreciate that Ma'am."

"I need to ask you some questions."

"I'll tell you whatever you need to know."

"Good. How long have you been partnered with Alexandra Williams?"

"3 years, 2 months, 12 days, and about 5 hours."

Mac nearly broke into a grin at the precision of his answer, but recognized the look of utter devastation on his face, and grew solemn. She knew that look all too well. "And how long have you been in love with her?"

Logan stopped and looked at her in surprise. After a moment, his jaw began to slightly quiver. "3 years, 2 months, 12 days, 4 hours, and 55 minutes," He replied through tears.

Mac gave a sympathetic nod. "Did she know how you felt about her?"

"Sometimes I think she did. Other times I'm not so sure. We've both dated other people, but it just never seemed to work out."

"Did she feel the same way about you?"

He hesitated, looking up at the sky as if watching the memories displayed before him. "I think she did. We never really talked about it?"

"After three years you never once talked about it?"

"We came close a few times, but we never seemed to be on the same page at the same time."

"I understand that one." Mac murmured.

"Excuse me Ma'am?"

"Nothing. Why didn't you ever just tell her how you felt?"

He stopped and looked at her as he answered. "Ma'am, have you ever wanted something, someone, so badly that you could taste it, but the prospect of taking that first sip, ties knots in your belly?"

Mac nodded. "Yes I have."

"Then you understand."

TBC...