A quick read through & the chapter is up - yep I know they aren't real chapters. I stop where a commercial would have been thrown in, and no I don't like them either. I'm trying to finish the story at the same time and next week I'll be on vacation, so don't shoot me. Although, I probably will hear a few screams after this chapter is read.

Lyn

Chapter Four

"I didn't even consider . . ." Harm murmured, he brought his hands from the small of his back, rubbed a hand over his face and then back through his hair. "I assume the police have already been notified, do they have any leads?"

"Yes the police have been notified, and no they do not have any new leads . . . And what did you mean - you didn't consider what? Captain," Cresswell inquired curiously, as he moved to stand in front of Harm, who stiffened his posture.

"I guess I should have . . . known that the Harrisons would probably have another child," Harm admitted slowly.

"However, the child is not Paul Harrison's, the Harrisons were only married two years ago," Cresswell explained, as he studied Harm's face for any reaction.

Harm's face registered his confusion as he contemplated what this new information meant. "How old is the little girl?" Harm asked slowly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"The little girl, Karissa, is . . ." as the SecNav checked the file on the general's desk, "8 years old, born October 28th, 1998," he paused letting the information sink in and waiting for a reaction from Rabb.

The realization of what he had just been told him struck like a ton of bricks. Harm broke his stance and walked over to the fireplace placed his hands on the mantle staring into the fire. "October of '98 . . . who's . . . who's the child's father," he barely got out, as he swallowed hard. That would mean the child was conceived at the end of January 1998 when Annie & I were still together.

"During our brief fact finding today, I found that the birth certificate lists Luke Pendry as the father. However, Lieutenant Luke Pendry was killed in 1995 and that was three years before the child was born. So, we know that probability is fairly slim unless we look at artificial insemination, correct Captain?" Cresswell offered up as he studied Harm closely.

Suddenly, Harm was having a hard time making any sense out of this entire situation, the room had gotten extremely warm. He pushed himself away from the fireplace and sat down in one of the leather chairs to the side the hearth, his breath coming quick and shallow, as his mind contemplated the possibilities and ramifications.

General Cresswell could see this had broken through the captain's armor. He was now positive Harm had been telling the truth. Harm looked truly shocked and shaken by this latest information, which was definitely new to the captain, aspects of which he probably never even considered. He continued to observe as Rabb seemed to get lost in his own thoughts.

The SecNav on the other hand was now sure the truth would come out. He reveled in wrapping this case up quickly, all leads and evidence pointed to Captain Rabb and he wasn't even denying it, of course he fathered the little girl and then abandoned them. Naval jocks were all the same. Hopefully this ordeal would soon be over, the Harrisons would have their family back together, the matter settled, and the navy would be spared any further embarrassment. Heaven forbid if the news media got a hold of the possibility of a naval officer kidnapping a child, the navy would be crucified. Rabb in particular was always a thorn in his side, he constantly managed to irritate most of the upper political echelon. It looked like a good possibility that a court martial would end the captain's illustrious career, hopefully without taking the navy with him.

Time seemed to stand still for Harm, as he sat trying to sort out all the information he had been given. One thing he concluded was that everything they had mentioned, although slim and circumstantial unfortunately was pointing in his direction. But the most important and foremost on his mind was trying to contemplate this child, a little girl. Was it possible? Could he be the father? Would Annie keep this from him, if he was the father? God, he had a ton of questions and no answers. Karissa, was that the name the SecNav used? His head was reeling so fast it felt like it was going to explode.

God, I need Mac to find the silver lining in all this right now.

He remembers the last time he saw Annie and Josh. - After telling Annie that they were going "sailing" for the weekend. He had taken Josh upon a tiger cruise upon the USS Stockdale, a guided missile frigate, into the Gulf of Mexico. Josh spotted a lifeboat hailing an SOS. The refugees turn out to be a group of Cuban liberators. Who proceed to take over the ship in order to use its harpoon missiles to assassinate Castro. All naval personnel and the children are taken hostage. Hiding in the helo bay, Josh climbed across the overhead pipes, thirty feet in the air, to thread a radio antenna through an air vent, so that Harm could radio for help. Quick thinking by Harm and assistance from Josh thwarted the terrorists escape in the Seahawk. Which crashed into the sea due to watered fuel. Back at JAG Harm apologized for lying to Annie about the weekend. He admitted that he had overstepped his bounds. Annie tells him she forgives him for deceiving her, but she can not forgive him for teaching Josh to do the same. She accused Harm of turning Josh against her. Never wanting to see him again she tells him, "Please don't call," as she walks out of his life with Josh. He remembers Josh lagging behind to wave good-bye to him.

"Captain Rabb . . . Captain . . ."

Rabb shook himself as he realized that General Cresswell was next to him and trying to get his attention. He quickly snapped to his feet. "Sorry, sir. My apologies, sir" Harm stammered.

"Captain, I want you to give me a good reason why I shouldn't be placing you in the brig tonight," Cresswell pressured, wondering why Rabb was acting guilty. Was the captain actually responsible for these children being missing? This seemed totally out of character for Rabb, as he was always honorable to a fault. And his gut was telling him that Rabb was the solution to the problem, despite what the SecNav thought.

"Sir, I assure you I have nothing to do with this incident. I really don't have an explanation of why the Harrisons believe I am involved. I could hardly be responsible, I didn't even know the little girl existed until just a few moments ago, when you informed me, sir," Harm replied.

"Rabb, If it were up to me, I would have had you sitting in the brig as soon as you landed," the SecNav interjected. "However, the general has convinced me to give you the benefit of the doubt. This meeting was supposed to clear up my concerns. I'm not sure I have heard a totally convincing argument so far," the SecNav pointed out.

Harm swallowed hard, "Sir, with all due respect, I could not take a child out of the country that I didn't even know existed, could I?" . . . "The only other thing that I can say in my defense is that if you think Josh is trying to find me, than I should be able to find him. I have some ideas of places that I would like to check, with your permission of course, sir?" Harm sent a pleading glance toward the general. The stakes had been doubled. Harm knew Josh could probably take care of himself in a pinch, even to find a warm place to sleep and get food. But would Josh have thought through or even planned what he would do to take care of his little sister; or was Josh operating solely on emotion without a plan in place. This second prospect chilled Harm to the core. If Josh had figured out the time frame of his sister's conception and was under the impression that Karissa was probably Harm's daughter. He might assume he was doing the 'right' thing against his mother's wishes. Josh might be trying to prove to his mother that she was wrong about her choices for his sister and therefore was also wrong about her choices for him.

General Cresswell stared at him quietly for a few minutes than glanced over at the SecNav briefly. Again looking Harm in the eye, "I believe you captain, but I would find these kids, and fast. Or I may be forced to have formal charges drawn against you solely based on the Harrisons complaint. It sounds like the only person who can shed light and corroborate on your innocence in this matter is Joshua Pendry, correct?"

"General, I didn't hear anything that convinced me that he was completely innocent in this complaint." the SecNav quickly pointed out.

"With all due respect, sir, I will not let one of my people be railroaded on this flimsy evidence and unsubstantiated accusations," General Cresswell exclaimed. "The Harrisons made it quite clear to me that they wanted their son & daughter back safely above anything else.

"General, I will not allow this to be pushed under the rug or delayed because it is 'one of your people' as you put it. The media will crucify the navy; this involves a child, for God's sake! Have I made myself perfectly clear!" the SecNav responded raising his voice.

"Sir, I believe there is nothing to gain by placing Captain Rabb in the brig at this time. He hasn't even been officially charged with anything. As I have said before there are more than a few extenuating circumstances involved, that we have yet to uncover or truly understand. And I believe the main objective is to get both Joshua and Karissa back as quickly as possible as well as safely, are we all agreed," Cresswell reasoned, looking at the SecNav for his answer.

After a brief pondering. "We are agreed . . . make sure I don't regret giving you the latitude, find this little girl and her brother and find them quickly," the SecNav countered. He picked up his coat and strode from the room.

Captain Rabb remained standing at attention after the SecNav's exit. The general rubbed his fingers over his eyebrows and left out a frustrated sigh. He finally recognized that the captain had been standing at attention or parade rest during most of the previous discussion. "At ease captain," Cresswell paced to the fireplace and back to where Harm stood. "Rabb do you have any solid ideas where Josh might have taken his sister?"

"I know a few places to start, but I would like to talk to Mr. & Mrs. Harrison and ask them a few questions, if I may?" he asked quietly.

"Captain you are walking on very thin ice. I don't think I need to remind you that these are the people who are filing the complaint against you. You heard the SecNav he wants you in the brig already. If you tick these people off further . . ." Cresswell left his voice drift off, when he saw the sincerity in the captain's eyes. He hesitated for a moment, then added "I'll ask them to come in, but push your feelings and emotions to the side right now, look at this strictly from a legal point of view, and please tread very carefully Captain," as he went to the door.

The Harrisons entered the room and the general directed them to the chairs by the fireplace, turning them toward the center of the room. Harm took a deep breath and asked, "If I may General?" Cresswell nodded his assent. "Mr. & Mrs. Harrison, may I ask why you thought I had something to do with Josh's disappearance?"

Paul Harrison looked at his wife. Annie glanced up at Harm and then looked down to stare at her hands that were clenched in her lap. "Josh and I have been arguing a lot of late . . . mostly about him going into the navy. Karissa . . . she got in between us on Monday . . . she was trying to get us to stop fighting. Josh was yelling at me that he was an adult and that I couldn't stop him from joining the navy. I lost it, I went to slap him and I accidentally hit Karissa. Josh was very angry he started to screaming at me . . . that I should tell Karissa the truth . . . telling her that I had always lied to her. That her father was . . .a naval officer . . . that she really wasn't a Pendry at all . . ." Annie was now sobbing uncontrollably.

Harm waited until her sobbing calmed and quiet sniffling could be heard. "Mrs. Harrison, the SecNav told me that Karissa was born in October of 1998. That would mean she was conceived in late January, correct?" The room was filled with the sound of Annie's renewed sobbing. Harm squatted down beside her chair, took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. "Is there a reason why you think Josh would be trying to get to me?" Harm waited impatiently for a few seconds and then pleaded, "Annie please, I need to know . . . who is Karissa's father?" Annie jumped to her feet and flew from the room. Her husband followed, Harm hung his head and sighed.

Again the room was filled with silence, stunned silence. Harm slowly rose to standing height and looked at the general; he then strode over to the french door and stared out into the night, although his troubled thoughts kept him from appreciating the view.

"Captain, she was not even willing to tell us the child's paternity when she came to us with the complaint . . . I take it there's a good chance the child could be yours?" he paused briefly as he watched the captain's back. "Is that why she keeps accusing you of taking the child?"

"Luke Pendry and I were best friends since the academy. I was best man at his wedding. I guess I always felt close to Annie . . . then Luke was killed. I realized that I was falling in love with Annie, but she had just lost her husband, the timing just wasn't right. We got back together again when Josh witnessed a murder at Andrews Air Force base. There was an attempt on Josh's life. So, I moved both of them into my apartment and Annie and I became lovers for a time. It ended badly when I took Josh on a tiger cruise without Annie's permission, he loved the navy and I thought I was helping him realize his dreams. Unfortunately, Annie didn't want Josh anywhere near the navy or any branch of the service for that matter. So I guess I can understand why she would blame me for having something to do with this," Harm explained.

"I wondered, when there was no indication in the note that Josh even considered leaving the country and there is no mention of you meeting him or how Karissa figured into this mess." The general said. He had a suspicion earlier that the little girl could be Rabb's daughter.

"General, I'm not sure Josh would have any clue that I was living out-side of the country. My email is on the navy server it would seem as though I was still living here in the states, he would have no way of knowing that I am stationed in England."

"And just to clarify the child, Karissa, I assume the timing means she is probably is yours?" the general asked for verification.

"If she was conceived at the end of January, she's probably mine. Annie and I were together until the end of March. Although, I can't believe that Annie would not at least tell me about the pregnancy, she was angry but . . ." Harm left his voice trail off. Could Annie be that cruel and not let me know that she was pregnant, that I had a child, a daughter.

"You said the relationship ended badly?" the general asked to bring him back to the conversation.

"Yeah, she walked out of my life, telling me 'not to call' that's the last time I saw either one of them. So, I was actually surprised when Josh emailed me about attending the naval academy. That is why I tried to get him to talk with his mother about it, before I would send the letter of recommendation."

"Okay captain I believe you. I didn't think you were the kind of person that would put any child at risk. Especially when it sounds like the child is more than likely yours. I would suggest however, that you figure out where they are and get them back quickly. This still is a very complicated situation."

"Yes sir," Rabb acknowledged. "But how do I find her and then let her walk away . . ."