Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: JAG and characters do not belong to me. This is only for
entertainment.
Classification: PG 13
Category: H/M drama
Summary: Harm and Mac's Christmas becomes a challenge to survive when
an assignment to the Middle East turns threatening. This happens during
season 7.
Written 12/01
December 21
1100
JAG HG
Harm and Mac walked into the bullpen totally engrossed in a lively debate related to their latest case. Mac was prosecuting while Harm defended. Negotiations had broken down and neither would give an inch.
"Commander, Colonel, in my office now!" The Admiral's voice bellowed interrupting the dispute.
The two officers stopped mid sentence and exchanged a guilty look before following their CO.
The Admiral stood by his fireplace with his arms folded across his chest.
"Sir, the Colonel and I were just discussing the benefits of settling the Henshaw case..." Harm began to explain with Mac shooting him an angry glare.
"Not exactly Sir. The Commander has this insane notion that Henshaw had no involvement..." Mac broke in.
"Colonel, Commander! As of now you are both off the Henshaw case." The Admiral picked up a file.
"But Sir, we weren't really arguing, we were just having a discussion. I'm sure we can work this out." Harm stammered.
"Yes Sir. I believe that once the evidence has been presented the jury will most certainly convict the guilty." She added.
"I'm sure they will Colonel, but Commander Rabb has been asked by the SecNav to fly to the Theodore Roosevelt to investigate a mishap. One of our F-14s has experienced mechanical failure in the no fly zone near the border between Syria and Iraq. He ejected safely, but the aircraft crashed in Iraq. Now SUDDAM Hussein is screaming that the craft was a deliberate attack on one of his villages and killed over thirty civilians. Intel can't determine if anyone was actually killed as a result of the crash or if Hussein is using this to further stir up hostilities against the US. It is common belief that Hussein is supporting the Jihad and secretly funneling supplies to bin Laden. The Middle East is a ticking time bomb and this incident just heated up the situation."
"What about the pilot?" Harm asked.
"He was picked up by Israelis soldiers in one piece. His name is Lt. John Abrams. His service record is spotless." The Admiral handed Harm Abram's service record.
"Colonel, I want you to go along. With your knowledge of the culture and one of the languages I think your assistance will be of value. Plus someone needs to go along to keep the Commander out of trouble." He added with a smirk.
Mac returned a smirk as Harm rolled his eyes.
"State is working on the political end trying to smooth things over. Intel is going to be investigating the crash site. Your job will be to investigate the pilot and the aircraft malfunction. Tiner has your travel arrangements. You will be leaving out of Andrews by 1700 today. Any questions?"
Harm and Mac responded in sync, "No sir."
They were about to leave when the Admiral stopped them. "Harm, Mac it looks like you will be away through the Christmas holiday, and I have a little something to let you know that I do appreciate your support throughout the year." He added a little awkwardly and handed each a gift.
"Sir, you really didn't have too." Mac smiled a little surprised.
"I know, but I did." The Admiral responded a little gruffly. "Now don't make this into a Hallmark commercial."
Mac tore open her gift to find a journal with words of wisdom for the day written at the top of each page.
"Sir this is beautiful."
"I thought you could use something to help you deal with Rabb." He added with a chuckle.
Harm raised his eyebrow and opened his gift, a bottle of aged bourbon. "This is the good stuff." Harm examined the bottle. "Thank you sir and this is suppose to help me cope with the Colonel's moods?" He added with a grin.
The Admiral tried to suppress a smile when Mac rolled her eyes at Harm and muttered, "Touché'!"
"Actually I was following General Grant's example of what he found to be characteristics of a good officer." He smiled remembering the discussion in McMurphy's bar after he served on the captain's promotion board.
Harm smiled feeling a little flattered.
"Sir we were planning on giving your gift to you at the Christmas party." Mac said apologetically.
"That can wait. You two just come back safely." He added and returned to his desk and settled back into his chair dismissing the two officers.
******
Harm was giving Bud last minute instructions on the Henshaw case when Tiner knocked at the office door. "Enter." Harm answered and handed Bud the file.
"Sir I understand that Gunny Galindez is stationed at the US embassy in Damascus. I thought that maybe you could see that he gets this. It's some peanut butter fudge my granny makes for me every Christmas. I just figured he and some of his outfit would appreciate something homemade at Christmas. You know." Tiner explained and handed a plastic container to Harm
"I will do my best. I'm sure the Gunny will appreciate this." Harm placed the container in his briefcase.
As Tiner retreated Admiral Boone passed him. "Admiral!" Harm smiled and extended his hand after Boone waved off a salute. "What brings you to JAG?"
"I understand you are preparing to take a trip to the Holy Land."
"Word travels fast." Harm nodded.
"I wanted to catch you before you left." Boone handed Harm a gift. "And don't tell me I shouldn't have done this. I still owe you for saving my six. I thought you could use a little holiday cheer."
Harm opened the gift to find another bottle of aged bourbon. He inconspicuously used his foot to push the bottle AJ had given him further under his desk. "This is the good stuff! Thank you Admiral. Do you have plans for the holiday?"
"I'm going to my nephew's for the day. He's a civilian, but his wife really knows how to cook." He added with a twinkle in his eyes. "Besides, my great nieces insist I come and tell them stories about flying."
"Sounds like a good plan." Harm added.
"I guess I better be on my way. You'll be heading out soon."
"Admiral, could you do me a favor?" Harm asked.
"Just name it."
"Could you make a stop for me...I usually go to the Wall on Christmas Eve."
The Admiral nodded and smiled, "It would be an honor to pay respect to Hammer for the both of us."
Meanwhile Mac was going over her case with Lt. Singer. "This should do it. Just be sure and nail the guy." Mac added and handed the file over.
"Yes Ma'am, I'm sure I can get a conviction." She said confidently.
"Don't underestimate Lt. Roberts." Mac added as she gathered her purse and briefcase preparing to leave.
"One more thing Colonel. I have this gift of toasted pecans, and I'm allergic to nuts so I thought that maybe you could give them to Gunny Galindez. I understand he is stationed in Syria." Singer handed Mac a Ziplock bag filled with toasted nuts.
Mac was surprised but readily agreed. Harriet walked in as Singer left. "Oh I see Lauren brought you some of those pecans she toasted. She asked me for my mother's recipe yesterday."
"Actually they are for Gunny." Mac replied in bewilderment.
"Just when you think you have figured her out..." Harriet muttered.
"I'm sorry you and the Commander are going to miss the Christmas party. Bud and I have a little something for you." Harriet pulled out a photo of little AJ sitting in Santa's lap. "I have one for the Commander too."
"Oh Harriet! He is just precious! I can't believe how much he's grown!" Mac cooed.
"He's going to be so disappointed that he won't get to see his godparents this Christmas. So will Bud and I. It's been a tough year and a half. I don't think Bud and I could have made it through last Christmas without friends like you and Harm." Harriet's voice sounded more emotional as she talked.
"Oh, Harriet." Mac reached over and gave the younger woman a quick hug. "I'm going to miss you too! Maybe we can bring you something back from the Holy Land."
"Just bring yourselves back safely." Harriet wiped away a tear from her face and turned to see her husband and Harm standing at the door.
"You can come in. Harriet and I were just wishing each other a Merry Christmas." Mac explained.
"Well you can wish me Merry Christmas too." Harm teased.
Bud caught Harriet's mischievous grin and added. "I wonder if they have mistletoe in Syria?"
Harm and Mac both were stunned by Bud's comment.
Seeing their surprised expressions he quickly added, "Let's walk them to their cars. The Commander said he has little AJ's gift in his SUV."
"It's from both of his godparents." Harm quickly added.
"It was mostly Harm's idea." Mac interjected. "When you see it you'll understand."
After unloading the battery operated miniature Corvette that AJ could sit in and drive, the two headed for their respective apartments to pack. Harm would pick up Mac and drive them to Andrews.
They arrived the next afternoon and immediately began their investigation. They had orders to come up with a preliminary report before Christmas when the bombings would be temporarily stopped for the holy day. Lt. Abrams gave his account of the mishap and his RIO concurred that they experienced a major systems malfunction causing the plane to crash. Harm quizzed the lieutenant enough to know that his story was plausible. It reminded him of his own crash in the spring. Intel had flown stealth aircraft over the crash site, but the photos were inconclusive. The jet had crashed into a building the Iraqis claimed was a school.
Webb called and informed them that Israeli Mossad had agents in the area of the crash. He had set up a meeting on the 23rd for Harm and Mac with two of the agents in a small remote village in southwest Syria near the Iraqi border. Time was running out and a tension between the Palestinians and Israelis was building.
Iraq was trying to rally the surrounding countries to take action against Israel and the US. Bin Laden was continuing to use the situation by sending video taped messages on the al-Jazeera network to increase the resentment towards the United States. This was not a good time to be in the area. Hamas commandos hid in the mountains and had been making attacks on villages in Syria and Israel. Americans had pretty much abandoned the area except for the military and embassy officials who were put on alert.
Harm and Mac would travel back to Tel Aviv to the US embassy and meet with various Middle Eastern and US officials to discuss their findings. Gunnery Sergeant Galendez was reassigned to that US embassy when the one in Syria had closed due to sniper attacks.
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