Chapter 39

Depression was a normal kind of feeling when outside influences were keeping him away from the woman he loved. It was making Vic a bit of a grump, a fact he noticed a day prior when he verbally attacked a petty officer just for making a piss poor pot of coffee.

And then there was Tally Mayfield. The woman had all but moved into Rabb's office and, with half of the staff, was scouring through any footage available in hopes of finding who had kidnapped the Colonel.

He offered his help, of course and remained a concerned coworker who poured all of his resources into the effort. Not that anyone else seemed to care. If anything, Mayfield had poisoned the staff against him and knowingly pointed fingers at him that were rebuked by Admiral Hollings, the one ally Vic ever had.

This morning, when he reached the JAG offices and stepped out of the elevators the mood was heavy and definitely somber. Staff that was always diligently attending their work stood by either huddled together or quietly staring at the TVs in the bullpen.

He was late, as usual because Aunt Addie stressed the need to keep up his normal routine and Vic was the kind who'd likely be late for his own funeral. In being tardy he'd caught the tail end of the news but didn't miss the way Tally brushed away the tears from her eyes. "Tals, what is it? What happened? Was Mac found?"

Mayfield was visibly shaken and couldn't muster any more animosity against her ex. She glanced at Vukovic and sighed heavily before telling him the words he would have sold his soul to hear: Rabb was dead.

"What? I thought he was found alive." The unfortunate ineptitude of a supposed killer that was nothing of the sort. Carl was a sham if he couldn't get the drop on some old jet jock.

"Died overnight…complications during surgery."

"Surgery?" As far as Vic knew the man only required a few stitches and would be out of the hospital in a few days, a fact which kept him away from visiting Winfield house and the woman he loved. "I don't know the details. It was just on the news." Hollings chose that moment to step out of the elevator wearing the same somber expression as the others. "Admiral on deck!"

He waved off his subordinates and plastered a stoic expression on his face. "From the somber expressions I can tell the news got ahead of me." He swallowed hard and sighed. "Yes, it's true. Captain Rabb has died. Last night he had a cardiac episode that the doctors incorrectly determined was due to an infection. Turns out he was bleeding internally and it was caught too late."

"Has his family been notified?" Tally asked, not that she knew much of Harm's family but she knew he had friends in Falls Church that was likely familiar with the Rabb family.

Hollings nodded slowly, "A call no CO ever wants to make. I know it will be difficult and as such I've spoken to General Cresswell who's decided to suspend court for the day. You all may secure early and start fresh tomorrow."

"Admiral?" It was almost impossible not to smile but Vukovic managed by biting his tongue (hard) when Hollings confirmed Harm's passing. "What will happen to his command? As Chief of Staff I'd like to step in, keep things in order until a suitable replacement is found."

He couldn't say 'no' because his agreement with Adele meant giving into all of Vukovic's whims. "First thing tomorrow we'll have a meeting about it."

"Aye, sir." He couldn't hold back the wide grin that came from the satisfaction of finally having his way. Rabb's job was his. Rabb's girl was too.

"You can, at least, pretend to be a little broken up about it, Greg." Tally elbowed him hard enough to wind and almost chuckled when he immediately guarded the spot on his ribs she'd hit. "You're not getting his command, you know that, don't you?"

"Aren't I? I'm a damned good lawyer, Tals and-"

"And it's an O6. If anything, it will go to Mac when she's found."

"If she's found." He smiled at her and shrugged. "Maybe with him gone she'll resign her commission and simply allow herself to fall in love?"

Mayfield brushed away another tear and glared at her ex with disgust. "Fall in love? With you?" She snorted at the concept. MacKenzie was too much woman for him and Vic, didn't belong to her ballpark, let alone the same league. "Are you off your meds again?"

"I told you never to mention that." His demeanor changed completely and for a moment Vukovic seemed unhinged. She knew this side of him, the one he kept at bay through medication. Tally could deal with the mood swings, control them because she loved him enough.

Now, Tally Mayfield could care less and when Vic roughly grabbed her arm, she issued her own threat. "I warned you-" The nails of her opposite hand dug into his arm enough to break skin.

"Bitch." He let her go at once. "I'm going home, there's nothing for me here. I suggest you crawl back to wherever Hell you came from. Rabb's gone, your testimony won't be needed any longer." Vukovic tucked his cover under his arm and rushed towards the elevators. "Bye, Tals. Have the life you deserve."

Mac had worked on her shiv, using the heavier fabric of her uniform to wrap around the sliver of wood, creating a rudimentary handle. It wasn't the best or biggest weapon but the Marines had taught her to adapt and none of DeLong's goons would be prepared for an attack.

She was tired. Lack of sleep and the subsequent news that Harm had, indeed, been killed left her bereft and heartbroken. There was still that nagging inclination, the one which led Mac to believe he was still alive. The man had more lives than an alley cat and she refused to believe he'd passed until…yes, until.

Until. Because she wasn't ready to consider living in a World without Harm in it.

Thankfully her internal clock was still in good working order. She was able to tell the date and time down to the second despite whatever cocktail Vukovic had given her. It was relatively early in the day, nearing noon when she heard commotion coming from below.

That was a good thing, Mac decided. If something was wrong the chances of security letting their guard down around her was probable. Timing was key and when an argument ensued, Mac made her move.

She used the same method to pick the lock, a pin from her uniform that worked too well on old doors. A quick peek and Mac saw that the guard who normally stood by her door, was gone. It was a chance for escape and so, she hurried down the hallway stopping only when Adele's voice made her pause.

"You can't be here, Gregory! It's far too soon! The fallout will be catastrophic. Your career, my career. I don't think the United States will take kindly to you kidnapping a Colonel." Mac had to admire DeLong's tenacity when it came to her godson. "You need to take your goddamned medication, Gregory!"

"Fuck the medication." Vukovic barked back and through a partially opened door she could see the man pushing Adele away from him. "I don't have a mental disorder, Aunt Addie. I know what I need and she's being kept from me. I'm in love."

Mac held her weapon tighter and flattened herself against the wall. She took a breath and held it, hoping no one would catch her eavesdropping. A silent prayer was sent that DeLong would finally tire of Vic's psychotic behavior. And when she heard a long, suffering sigh, her prayer was answered.

"Ah, yes. Love. And were you "in love" all those other times before?" Her comment calmed him down briefly and Adele could no longer deny that her darling godson had problems, many problems. None of them were fixable as the veil had been pulled back enough for many in the Navy to ask questions. "You know what, Gregory? As much as it pains me to break a promise to your mother, I can't help you anymore - I won't. This time, you've gone too far… Victor?"

The Chief of Staff must have been waiting just outside in the anteroom because he appeared much too quickly. "Ambassador?"

"Call Diplomatic Security and let them know that my godson, Lt. Commander Gregory Vukovic, has kidnapped Colonel Sarah MacKenzie and brought her to Winfield House."

"Ma'am?" Victor stared at his boss while his brain was searching for a reasonable explanation. "The girl has been here for days. Some of the staff-"

"Will want to keep their jobs or spend the rest of their lives in prison as accomplices."

"And the Colonel?"

"I'll deal with her." She turned to her godson who merely stood by as if the conversation wasn't really happening. His aunt would never, could never but, this time, Adele was done trying to save him. "Sit down, Gregory. Don't make this any harder for me than it has to be."

"Harder for you?" Vukovic was confused. His greatest ally suddenly turned against him leaving little choice in the matter. "Aunt Addie, please."

"Call security, now!" There was a click, a familiar sound to anyone that ever shot a firearm. Metal against metal, a slide landing in place as a round was racked. Victor and DeLong stood motionless for several breaths until the Ambassador's eyes zoned in on the small pistol Vic held at them. "How did you get that?"

Vukovic shrugged. He normally despised weapons because marksmanship was one of the few disciplines he was never proficient in. Guns made his hands shake and even seeing Sarah's firearm medals had made him fear the Marine. Nevertheless, he had his own friends in high places, two of the guards which despised Adele enough to take his side. "Why do you think it was so easy for me to bring her here?"

They came out of nowhere and Mac was in no position to fight back, at least, not yet. She was biding her time and hid the shiv inside the sleeve of the long shirt she wore. Neither of the guards were gentle. Not the one who grabbed her shoulder nor the one that fisted a handful of hair that he used to push her through a partially open door.

She narrowly missed cracking her head against the corner of DeLong's desk but still crashed into a chair that, miraculously, did not break. It was Adele who came to her side first and Vukovic second but the blood thumping in her ears made it difficult to hear the melee until a single shot was fired. "No."

It hit Victor who immediately fell while howling in pain. She wasn't sure how badly the man was wounded only that a second shot hit one of the guards, the one that had pushed her through the door and was entirely too close for Vukovic's liking.

That man fell like a tree, the red spot at his abdomen spreading across a pristine white dress shirt. He was dead, Mac could tell by the look in his eyes but before she could question what was happening, Vukovic was pulling her to his feet.

"Get the private jet ready."

Adele was kneeling next to Kirsh, trying to stymie the bleeding with a jacket she once wore. "Jet? It takes me days to-"

"Bullshit. It takes an hour to get to Biggin Hill, they'll have it ready."

Delong stood and sighed heavily, this turn of events was not something she ever expected from her darling godson. She was not a fan of being held hostage and even though Vukovic pointed the pistol her way, she would not make this easy. "And where are you planning on going, Gregory?"

"Nice, France." Vukovic shook with anticipation, his mind developing images he'd recently seen in a magazine. The French Riviera could be quite romantic for couples with exquisite tastes. Casinos, white sandy beaches and cuisine with Mediterranean flair. Then there was the Promenade des Anglais where he saw himself walking with Sarah. He is in a suit and her wearing a peach coloured wedding dress.

"France?"

"Yeah, France. We'll get married there and-"

"Oh God." Adele felt her heart break. She always knew Gregory had some issues but never expected this full manic breakdown. It was terrifying and for her own sake, she began another assault. "Married? She's not going to marry you, Gregory. Colonel MacKenzie is not in love with you!"

Vukovic lunged at his aunt, the hand not holding the weapon reaching her throat. He squeezed hard with an intent to kill that abated when Mac yelled at him to stop. "Stand down, Commander! That's an order!"

Her command had him releasing DeLong and something forced him to comply by shoving the woman to the ground where her Chief of Staff lay bleeding. "Get on the phone and get me the fucking jet. And you-" He whipped towards Mac and raised the pistol with a shaking hand. "Don't ever order me around, Sarah. I'm not that old, asshole, jet jock you once fucked. I demand respect-"

Despite the gun and Vukovic's manic behavior, Mac slapped him. She wound up and hit as hard as possible, enough that it actually hurt. "I'll never, ever be yours. And I'll never ever love you. Harm's alive. He'll find me and when he does, you'll pray for death."

Vic stared at her, his expression that of a puppy which had been kicked. He seemed heartbroken, her slap hurt as much as a knife through the heart could. "Come on, Sarah."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

He raised the gun but quickly changed tact knowing his threat wouldn't mean much to a Marine. Instead he pointed the barrel towards Adele and Victor, aiming for the Chief of Staff's head - an innocent he knew the good Colonel would do anything to protect. "Let's get going, Colonel. I'm dying to leave this godforsaken, dreary country."

Five minutes later they were on the road to the small airfield never knowing that another vehicle was speeding towards Winfield House.