Chapter 40

Even though she knew it wasn't the case, Mac felt like she'd been under a microscope all afternoon. By the time she left for the day she was more mentally exhausted than she could remember being for a long time. She entered her apartment, took off her coat and decided to make some hot chocolate. Turning the dial to the burner, Mac muttered a curse when it didn't come on.

Not wanting to take the time to light the pilot light, she grabbed a box of matches and lit one. The resulting explosion threw her back and she hit her head on the counter before sinking to the floor.

AJ had tried to call Vicky several times that afternoon, but she wasn't answering either her apartment line or her cell phone. He left work and was on his way to her apartment when his cell rang. Hoping it was her, he flipped it open and was shocked to be told that Colonel Sarah Mackenzie had been in an explosion at her apartment and was now at Bethesda awaiting consent for treatment. He was even more shocked to be told that he was listed as her 'emergency contact'. Telling the nurse he was on the way, he made an illegal U-turn and headed for the hospital. Going to see Vicky was forgotten.

Rushing into the hospital, AJ gave them his name and was asked to sign several forms that were put before him. He asked if he could see Colonel Mackenzie and the aide told him he would have to wait until the doctor was done with his exam before he could go in.

She came back out with a doctor, who asked AJ, "You're here to see Colonel Mackenzie?"

"Yes, I'm Admiral Chegwidden her Commanding Officer."

"Do you know who AJ is?" the doctor asked him, as the two shook hands.

"My name is AJ, why?"

"She's calling for you then. Come with me."

AJ walked in he saw Mac lying as still as death there were scratches on her face and a bruise on her forehead. She looked so pale. He heard her call out his name and rushed over to her, taking her hand he said gently, "I'm here Sarah, and everything's going to be alright."

Mac, who was unconscious didn't hear him, but almost as if she sensed him there, she gave a soft sigh and stopped calling out for him. He didn't know if that was a good sign or not.

He was told that he would have to leave so they could treat her, but the second he let go of her hand and moved away, she began to stir and call for him. The doctor saw that and said, "Work around him…Admiral come back and keep her still."

"Her wounds don't look that serious, why is she unconscious?" AJ demanded as they worked on Mac.

"She hit her head when she fell backward. She has a large bump on the back of her head."

They worked for some time treating Mac's wounds as AJ wondered why she would have him listed as her 'emergency contact'. He would have expected it to be her Uncle Matt, but then it occurred to him that they wouldn't be able to get a hold of him in Leavenworth. But then why not Harm? With him dead she could have just recently have changed it. But would she have had a reason to change it that recently? He was confused. He was also confused by what he was feeling as he stood over her still form.

Holding her hand and looking down at her, AJ felt a tug at his heart, what if she died? How would he deal with that? He had just lost a friend in Harm and now to lose Mac too? But this was different than with Harm, he didn't know how, but it was. Could it have been the kiss? Yes, that must have been it. If she hadn't kissed him he wouldn't be thinking things like this now.

Just then they told AJ that they would be moving her to a room. As they wheeled her bed out of the exam room they were met by a police officer. "Sir I'd like to ask you some questions," he said to AJ.

"What do you need Officer?"

"Can you think of anyone that would want to hurt Ms. Mackenzie?"

To be continued…..