Chapter 41

"It's Colonel Mackenzie and why would you ask something like that?" AJ wanted to know.

"The explosion at her apartment wasn't an accident. The gas had been on for some time to have caused an explosion like that. It didn't just happen. So can you think of anyone that would want to hurt the Colonel?"

"Well, last week one of our lawyers was killed and two days ago there was an attempt on my life…" AJ trailed off.

"So you think someone is targeting everyone at your work?" the officer asked.

"I don't know, the police have no leads as of yet. We have our people on it as well, but nothing has turned up. All the incidents were different, it's hard to say."

"I'll check on the other case files and see if we can find something to tie them all together. Thank you Admiral, I'll be in touch."

"Thank you officer," AJ said and then hurried down the hall to the nurse's station. He informed the nurse on duty that they needed a guard on Colonel Mackenzie's door. He informed her that there had been an attempt on Mac's life and if the would be killer found out she was still alive, they might try again.

He waited for the guard to arrive and instructed him that no one was to get by with the exception of hospital staff, and approved visitors. The guard swore that he would protect the Colonel.

AJ walked into the room and up to her bed; she was so still and quiet. He looked down at her and the truth hit him from out of the blue. He now knew why he reacted the way he did in his office that morning, why he had the feelings he did upon witnessing her dream the other night. Maybe this feeling even went back as far as that almost-kiss in his bedroom all those years ago. Could it have? Honestly reviewing his feelings then and now, he realized that he'd talked himself out of believing it then, but now he could no longer deny it. He was in love with her!

Taking her hand in his, AJ sat down next to her bed and wondered if anything would ever come of this. 'Oh right! You think she would ever want an old man like you?' his head demanded.

'She sure kissed me like she meant it this morning!' his heart countered.

'She was trying to make Vicky jealous!'

'But she didn't have to make it that convincing!'

'Sure she did, otherwise Vicky wouldn't have been fooled!'

'Well, what about that almost-kiss all those years ago? She wasn't trying to make anyone jealous then!'

'Yeah and if it really meant anything, don't you think she would have done or said something about it before now?'

'After the way we acted the next day at work? When we gave her the duty and regulations speech?!'

"Oh shut up!" he muttered aloud, and was startled to hear Mac reply, "I didn't say anything."

Jumping to his feet, he saw that Mac was indeed awake, "How are you feeling?

"Like I was hit by a truck," she sighed.

"Mac, I'm sorry that this happened! There is no way I wanted you involved in this!"

"AJ, it wasn't your fault! I'm the one that tried to make her jealous!"

"That doesn't change the fact that you were hurt! I will see to it that it doesn't happen again! There is a guard on your door and he'll stay there till Vicky is dealt with."

"So you do think it's her now?"

"Who else could it be? You were right and I should have listened to you before this."

"Its alright, I know it must be hard to think that someone you care about is capable of this."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, Sir, what is it?"

"Why did you have me listed as your 'emergency contact'?"

Flustered, and not wanting to tell him the real reason, Mac stuttered a bit when she said, "I…I…just felt that as my Commanding Officer you would need to know if anything happened to me anyway, and with Uncle Matt out of contact, I figured that you would be the best choice."

"I see," he replied. His heart not liking that answer, but his head knowing that it was the only real explanation.

As Mac drifted off again, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and left to deal with Vicky.

To be continued…..