Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: JAG and characters don't belong to me. No profit made
here.
Classification: PG-13
Category: Drama
Summary: This is the sequel to A Walk on the Dark Side. Warning references made to rape. "Take My
Breath Away" is from the sound track Top Gun.
I was amazed at the amount and depth of the responses I received for 'A Walk on the Dark Side.' With the help of some very special people who tried to break me of my compulsion to misspell and use commas incorrectly as well as help me keep the subject matter true, I was able to write this sequel. Thank you, Lelia, Karen, Marianne and Brenda. This story is for you! By the way Brenda, I realize I probably missed an opportunity to include a comma or two in this dedication...oh well...on to the story.
PART 3
Harm shifted around in bed as he awoke, feeling better after a long medication assisted nap. Mac immediately was by his side as a soft knock drew their attention to the door as a tall graying man entered. "Jack?" Harm looked up groggily.
Mac stood up from the bed surprised by the visitor's presence and extended her hand. "I'm Sarah MacKenzie."
"Jack O'Neill (Had to get a plug in there for all you Stargate SG-l fans). Just call me Jack." He smiled warmly while taking her hand and looked over at Harm. "This is Mac?"
Harm nodded. "This is Mac."
"Looks like everyone knows who I am." Mac looked to the visitor expectantly.
Jack looked to Harm who picked up the cue. "I called him. Jack is my counselor. He's been helping me deal with ...you know."
"I'm glad to finally get to meet you Mac." Jack smiled.
"So he's been talking about me? I hope it's all good," Mac teased gently and reached over to give Harm's hand a squeeze. "I've got to go. Take care and I'll be around later."
Jack sat down in the bedside chair and leaned on his elbows. "I know what you are wanting to ask and no I haven't been taking drugs. Someone put them in my Tylenol bottle at work," Harm explained defensively.
"Are you into reading minds now or is that a little guilt I hear?" Jack raised his eyebrows expectantly.
Harm let out an impatient sigh.
"You know there are other drugs besides the illegal ones. Alcohol is considered a drug," Jack added matter of factly.
"I know, but alcohol didn't do this. And I'm not planning on drinking or even taking an aspirin anytime in the near future. Hell, I took a few over the counter capsules for a headache and ended up in the ICU. Besides, the euphoria from crystal meth is highly overrated," Harm chuckled nervously.
"Good to see you haven't lost your since of humor." Jack leaned back into the chair.
"I won't lose it, I'm waiting for that to be taken away too," Harm replied despondently.
"Harm, I know you told me in the beginning that you didn't want to take any antidepressants, but I'm having some second thoughts."
"No. If I take them I'll loose my active flight status," Harm replied adamantly.
"This would probably just be for six months to a year. I think it would help you get through this."
"No."
"Well then I think that you need to take some time off. Your job is much more stressful than I imagined." Jack waited for a response.
"I've been thinking about that, but I need to get back to work. If I don't everyone will assume that I have some sort of drug problem."
"This would just be temporary. I want to do some intensive one to one therapy during this time," Jack implored.
Jack's change in treatment plan concerned Harm. "Jack, you do know I wouldn't intentionally take drugs. Duram did this. I know he did."
"Harm, have you considered why you've been taking so many over the counter drugs lately?" Jack probed. "I here you contradicting yourself. You've refused any medication to help, but the reason you're here is because you took what you thought was a small handful of Tylenol in a very short period of time. You've been eating them like candy lately. And what about your increased alcohol consumption? Harm, this tells me you aren't dealing with any of this, you're trying to ignore it till it goes away. It's not going away." Jack confronted his client.
"I can't loose my flight status," Harm repeated desperately.
"Harm, you almost died. Sure some creep set you up, but you didn't see it coming. Do you really need to be up in some powerful aircraft? You haven't gotten to be the talented lawyer and pilot for the Navy by being careless," Jack pointed out carefully.
"I thought you said I became a pilot to fulfill some expectations of my father. Now I'm talented?" Harm spat angrily as the effects of the crystal meth kept his emotions labile.
"No, we never got around to finishing that discussion. I asked you to think about your motives. But can you honestly tell me that you could be making a split second decision and not have a flashback?" Jack persisted.
"Do you always argue with your clients?"
"Only the ones that are stubborn."
"You don't sound like a counselor." Harm rebutted angrily.
"That's why you like my style." Jack cocked his head slightly.
The tactic worked to deescalate Harm's anger. "I'll think about it."
"I'm sure you'll have some downtime after you get out of the hospital. Call me as soon as you're released and well get together and shoot the breeze." Jack smiled and patted Harm on the shoulder before he left.
********
"Sir, have you got a minute?" Sturgis entered the dark paneled office of Admiral Chegwidden.
"Come in Commander." The Admiral gestured for him to take a seat. "What's on your mind?"
"I've tried to talk with Colonel MacKenzie and Lt. Roberts about this situation with Commander Rabb. They both are of the opinion that Duram is involved in some way. Lt. Roberts stated that he believes that Duram was linked to the gang that was responsible for the rapes, but that doesn't explain why he would have placed those drugs so that Commander Rabb would take them. The Private was the one who requested Rabb for his defense. Am I missing something here?" Sturgis sighed in frustration. "MacKenzie and Roberts both are rather closed lipped when I try to pursue it any further. You asked me to investigate this, but I keep running into dead ends."
The Admiral shifted uncomfortably and then got up and walked to the window considering his response. "Commander, I believe that only Commander Rabb has the answers to your questions, and I don't know if he'll give them to you."
"I don't understand."
"I believe that it has to do with his assault." The Admiral paused. "I think it was more than a simple assault."
Sturgis frowned, "I see."
"Harm asked to be removed from this case, and I tried to get him to explain his reasons. He refused. I should have listened to him." The Admiral sounded remorseful.
"I'll do my best to get to the bottom of this Sir." Sturgis replied thoughtfully.
*******
Harm was sleeping soundly when the Admiral arrived. The nurse explained that the medications they were giving him kept him sedated, but it was almost dinnertime and they would be waking him soon anyway. AJ walked over to the bed, but hesitated to disturb the sleeping man. Dark circles were still evident under Harm's eyes. He had lost weight. AJ sighed, mentally berating himself when a nurse walked in with a tray. "Commander, time to wake up, you've got company. I've brought your dinner and your pm medications."
Harm squinted and rubbed his eyes trying to focus on the people in front of him. "Admiral?"
"I just got here. Go ahead and eat, Harm." The Admiral laid his cover on the bedside table and turned to find a chair. The nurse handed Harm a cup of pills and uncovered the meal.
Harm looked at the food and groaned. "That's okay, I'm not that hungry."
"Maybe you need to try to eat something anyway." AJ suggested in a fatherly tone.
Harm's hand trembled as he picked up the cold beverage on the tray. He self-consciously put his hand down as he noticed the Admiral staring.
"I'm sure that will pass as the drugs get out of your system. I understand crystal meth likes to hang around for a while," AJ offered.
His embarrassment was still evident. Harm pushed the overbed table away anyway. "I'm really not hungry."
"Harm, I'm sorry I put you in this position." AJ confessed.
"You put the crank in my Tylenol bottle Sir?" Harm half-joked.
"No, but I should have trusted you when you asked to be removed from the case."
Harm dropped his gaze. "I'm sorry I couldn't give you my reasons. I guess I didn't trust you either."
"Harm, we will get who did this."
"Sure." Harm sounded doubtful.
"You doubting me?" The Admiral raised his eyebrows.
"Maybe."
An awkward silence passed.
"Sir, I would like to take an extended leave." Harm spoke first.
"The doctors want you to take at least two weeks after your release."
"I mean I want more time."
"How much?"
"I don't know." Harm looked down at his quivering hands.
"Take whatever time you need," the Admiral said with a sympathetic nod. "Let me go so you can eat." He stood to leave when Harm looked up.
"Admiral, I could have ended all of this. I destroyed evidence that would have convicted Duram."
The Admiral's face remained impassive. "I believe you did what you thought was best under the circumstances, Commander." His eyes met Harm's communicating his understanding. He picked up his cover from the bedside table and started to leave.
"Thank you sir."
AJ turned and nodded warmly.
***********
Before Harm's discharge from the hospital, Sergei had moved into Harm's new home. He had the same Rabb trait of overprotectiveness that his older brother had perfected. He also had Harm's compulsiveness towards orderliness. So when Mac brought Harm home, the house was in better shape than when he left. Bud and Harriet had brought by meals for the week, and Sturgis had Harm's Corvette waxed and polished. What surprised Harm the most was the crew of painters working on the outside of his house. "What in the world?" Harm mumbled as Mac drove up his driveway. "I didn't hire any painters."
"I think they work cheaply." Mac grinned devilishly.
Harm got out of the SUV to see two men painting the gables on the roof and two others working on the trim around the windows and porch. Sturgis turned around and waved. "Welcome home."
Harriet came out with a tray of lemonade. "Break time! Welcome home, Sir!"
Harm was speechless. "You didn't have to do this."
"Oh really?" Bud turned around and moved the bill to his cap up so he could see better. "Harriet said I owed you for some repairs to our refrigerator. Besides, I thought we were under orders." He gestured to another painter climbing down from the roof.
The Admiral stepped away from the ladder. "This was the only way to we could think of to find a reason to see your new place."
"Sir?"
Sergei climbed down off the roof. "I show them around the 'Ponderosa'." He stretched his arms out proudly.
"The Ponderosa? You've been watching too much TV, Sergei." Harm chuckled and looked around at his house that now sported a new coat of paint. "I don't know what to say."
"Try thanks." Mac whispered and received a playful punch to her arm.
"How about some help here. I stopped at Pop's Deli for lunch." Mac moved to the rear of the SUV. Sergei responded by retrieving the cooler packed with food and headed towards the house.
"Go wash up guys, and I'll set up." Harriet commanded, and everyone except Harm and Mac noisily headed into the house.
"This was really great. You didn't have to do this." Harm choked on the words. The effects of the drugs still had him feeling a little fragile.
"You said that already, but it was a beautiful Saturday, and we didn't have anything to do," Mac explained. "Besides like the Admiral said, since you hadn't invited us, we needed an excuse to see the Ponderosa," she replied with a grin.
"You know you never need an excuse to come by," Harm said softly.
Mac smiled warmly. "I guess we better get inside."
They stepped up on the porch and Harm stopped to examine their handiwork. "Mac?"
"Yes?"
"I don't remember picking out this color at the paint store. In fact, I don't remember picking out paint."
"You didn't? I really like the color...would have picked it out for myself. Do you like it?" Mac grinned as they walked into the house.
"Yea, it's great, but I have one request." He paused before they joined the others. His face bore a serious expression.
"Sure Harm what is it?" Mac responded just as seriously.
"I don't want anyone to call me Hoss."
"What every you say Little Joe."
********
"There are those who believe that everything that happens to us has a purpose."
"It may have a purpose, but it isn't always a noble purpose," Harm replied to Jack's latest maxim.
"True. How would you classify what happened to you?"
"Bad luck."
"So you're from the school of life consists of a series of events that we have no control over, but are at the mercy of luck," Jack replied using his light sarcasm that tended to taunt his clients into explaining in more detail.
"No, I'm more of the control type. I believe that most of the time we determine what happens to us in life, but sometimes we end up in the wrong place at the wrong time...bad luck."
"So you believe in coincidences?"
"Yes, I guess. My father was asked to fly an extra mission. It was the last mission he ever flew."
"You have a brother as a result."
"Oh so now you're trying to convince me that something good is going to come out of the fact that I was..." Harm stood up in an attempt to release his anger.
"Say the word Harm. Raped."
"Nothing good could *ever* come out of that!"
"Just consider this a moment, now that you know your brother and the circumstances that lead to his birth. Suppose you had the power to undo the past. Would you?"
Harm sat down running his hand through his hair in frustration. "But I don't have that power."
"I know that. Indulge me."
"I would have rescued my father *and* had my brother if I had that kind of power."
"All I'm saying is if you could have prevented your father from being captured. Would you?"
Harm looked at Jack with frustration. "I can't answer that."
"You can't because you wouldn't want to make that choice."
"Yea."
"So Sergei is a positive in your life."
"Sure. He's my brother, and I love my brother. Sergei makes it easier for me to accept what my father had to go through all those years...what I had to go through without him."
"Maybe when all is said and done something will make what happened to you a little easier to accept," Jack concluded.
"That sounds trite."
"Actually, it is one of my favorite cliché's," Jack replied with his characteristic sly smile.
"And I pay you for this?"
"You must admit I'm entertaining."
"A former girlfriend of mine once told me never tell a girl she's entertaining unless she's a stripper."
"You want me to strip?" Jack replied in mock surprise.
"That is so not funny." Harm rolled his eyes.
"You're right. That was tasteless and inappropriate."
"And I am sitting here looking for answers from you." Harm let out a sarcastic chuckle.
"No, you have all the answers. I'm just here to listen as you find them." Jack made his point in the most unsuspecting way as usual. "I guess that brings us to the end of this session. Your assignment if you choose to accept it will be to take each traumatic event in your life and make a road map showing what happened to you as a result of each of these events...include good and bad. I will not automatically blow up after you depart, so see you Thursday same time," Jack said in his customary humorous way. "Also I want to hear about all of these former girlfriends, and especially Mac."
"Mac's not a former girlfriend."
"Oh so she's your current girlfriend."
"Now you're a matchmaker?"
"I had a Jewish grandmother."
"Now why would I find that hard to believe?"
*******
Harm and Sergei got out of his Vette and entered the pizza place in Leesburg after spending the afternoon working on his biplane. Neither was aware of the car that pulled up and sat with its occupant that had watched them all that day.
********
Mac was finishing an interview at Quantico south of Washington when she heard a familiar voice. "Good afternoon Ma'am." She looked up to see Private Timothy Duram standing with another Marine at the door.
She felt herself tense in his presence. "Private Duram? How can I help you?"
"Ma'am, I just recognized you from JAG headquarters and wanted to ask you to tell Commander Rabb hello for me. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be free." His chilling smile sent uncomfortable shivers through Mac.
Mac nodded. "And have you been keeping yourself out of trouble, Marine?" She almost choked on the word Marine.
"Trouble is my middle name Ma'am. I would really appreciate you're telling the Commander that I want to come by and see him when I have the opportunity." He grinned again as his eyes drifted towards her chest and then back to her eyes.
"Commander Rabb is on leave. I wouldn't bother," Mac replied in a controlled tone.
"I hope he isn't sick." Duram feigned concern.
"Private I'm sure you have duties to attend too." Mac cut off the conversation, as she felt more uncomfortable.
Duram grinned evilly as he watched the attractive Marine Colonel get into the military issue vehicle. "It's party time." He said to himself.
*******
Mac drove north as the last rays of sunshine dipped into the west. She still couldn't escape the uneasy premonition that something bad was about to happen. She picked up her cell phone and dialed. When she got the answering machine she made a detour and headed west. The car that was tailing her remained far enough behind that she didn't notice.
The shortcut towards Leesburg was almost deserted as she drove towards Harm's place. Sergei had night class and Harm would be alone. Her heart rate increased as she continued to drive. Again she punched her speed dial and again only got his answer machine. "Pick up Harm!"
The car moved closer, and the driver used his knees to steer as he slipped a stocking over his face. He patted the knife and handcuffs he carried and reached for the camera he had on the passenger seat.
******
Harm had worked for several hours on his steerman and was driving south to pick up a replacement part for the biplane from a machine shop. As he rounded the curve, he met two sets of headlights.
*****
Mac wasn't aware of the car that had pulled up next to her until she saw a car approaching suddenly blast it's horn. She glanced to see a car trying to pass her and quickly directed her vehicle to the side of the road to avoid a collision. The approaching car skidded off the opposite side of the road as the passing car sped up and drove away. "Jerk!" Mac yelled as the taillights of the reckless driver disappeared around the curve.
She jumped out of her vehicle concerned for the other driver who had driven into the ditch. "Harm?"
"Mac?"
"What are you doing out here? I've been trying to call you for over an hour?" Mac demanded as her adrenaline from the near miss accident continued to surge.
"I live out here remember? Are you okay? That guy was driving like an idiot," Harm replied equally shook up from the incident.
"Did you get a look at him? I don't think he even had a tag to id his car."
"I couldn't make out his face. He was driving too fast and his headlights blinded me. But you're okay?" His eyes scanned her for conformation.
"Yes." Mac sighed. "I was coming to check on you. I had a bad feeling. I guess it was about our almost wreck." She chuckled in relief.
"You want to come to the house? I'll fix us something to eat." Harm offered.
"Sounds good, I'm beat."
******
"I saw Duram today." Mac stated as she sipped on the cup of warm tea that Harm had brought to her.
"Your day is complete; you met up with two SOB's in one day. Lucky you." Harm eased down into a chair facing Mac as she sat shoeless curled up on the sofa.
"He wanted me to tell you hello." She left off his comment about Harm being responsible for his freedom. "He's like a snake. He gives me the creeps." Mac shivered.
"You have good reason. Stay away from him." Harm's eyes darkened.
"Let's talk about something else." Mac sighed. "You feeling okay?"
"Yep, I'm cleared medically, just not mentally yet." He smiled with a shrug.
"Have you ever been mentally cleared?" Mac teased.
"I have had a few clear thoughts." Harm seemed to fall easily into the repartee.
"Well it certainly wasn't when you asked Renee out that first time." Mac retorted.
"At least I didn't almost marry her." Harm replied defensively and then immediately regretted his words. "Mac, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up anything painful for you."
"It's okay. You are right. I should have never let things go that far between me and Mic. We were a catastrophe waiting to happen." Mac said openly.
"Mac can I ask you something personal?" Harm asked tentatively.
"As long as it doesn't involve the color of my underwear."
Harm almost choked on the tea he had just sipped, but quickly recovered enough to respond. "You wear underwear?"
Mac raised an eyebrow bemused at his response. "Do I have to present evidence?"
Harm blushed uncomfortably. Deciding he wasn't ready for the direction of the conversation, he became more serious. "Mac, are you glad you didn't marry Brumby?"
Mac cleared her throat, surprised at the question. "I don't know that I would use the word glad." She paused. "I think that since everything fell apart at the first sign of real stress before the marriage, then there was a high probability that the marriage wouldn't have lasted. I guess I'm thankful it happened before we were married. Why do you ask?"
"Jack asked me to make a sort of road map of all the traumatic events in my life. I'm supposed to take each event and identify the good and bad outcomes that have resulted. My crash last year caused you to cancel your wedding. I didn't know whether to consider it a positive or negative outcome."
"If I wouldn't have told you my thoughts, how would you have classified it?" Mac probed.
"I really hated that I hurt you, but." He stopped and fidgeted nervously with his cup.
"But?"
"But, I'm glad you didn't marry him. I didn't think he was right for you."
"You've never liked the guys I've dated."
"That's not completely true."
"What part is true."
"Mic had his good points."
"Name one."
"He was in the Navy...the Australian Navy."
"But he gave that up for me."
"I think he was basically honest."
"Basically?"
"Alright I thought he was an arrogant jerk. And I'm glad he's gone. Are you happy?"
"Now that you're being basically honest, so will I." She noted his discomfort and continued. "When you crashed, I felt responsible for you flying that night. I would have never forgiven myself if you had died. I know this because a large part of me nearly died that night thinking I might not get to see you again."
Harm looked at her with pain in his eyes unsure of how to respond.
Mac leaned forward and grasped his hand. "Just file that piece of information away for when you're ready to talk." She then stood up and kissed him lightly on the forehead. "No pressure."
She picked up his cup and headed towards the kitchen. "I better get home. It's late, and I have to be in court early."
"Mac, why don't you stay here. I don't want you driving alone," Harm offered.
"I'm a Marine. I've confronted terrorists, rioting mobs and arrogant attorneys. I can handle road rage," she said as she picked up her purse.
"Call me when you get home." He looked at his watch. "It should take you..."
"Forty seven minutes." Mac added with a smile. "I'll call."
"If you don't call in forty seven minutes. I'll be on the road looking for you," he warned as he assisted her with her jacket.
******
"It took you forty five minutes. Were you speeding?"
"I made all the lights...go figure."
"Good night Ninja girl."
"Night Flyboy."
***************
Harm looked around the dark familiar surroundings; he knew danger was lurking around him. His heart began to race wildly and he felt short of breath as shadows silently stalked him. He looked for a door, but the room didn't have one. A sarcastic laughter echoed in the hallway of his old apartment. "Time to party! Ready for some sex, drugs and rock and roll?" The voice echoed in the dark room. Harm jerked as a hand touched his shoulder.
"Harm, you are dreaming. Wake up." He recognized Sergei's voice as he pushed away the fog of sleep.
"What time is it?" he croaked and sat up trying to reorient himself to his surroundings.
"It is almost two am. Would you like to talk?" Sergei handed him a glass of water.
"No, sorry to wake you." Harm got up, walked to the window, and opened it taking several deep breaths to clear his head.
*********
Sturgis entered the breakroom at JAG headquarters and found Bud stirring himself a cup of cocoa. "I've been over and over all the information we have on Private Timothy Duram and so far I can't find anything outside of the evidence from the trial that suggested he has the potential for any sort of physical violence or drug abuse. In fact the kid is squeaky clean."
Mac entered on the discussion. "He gives me a bad feeling whenever I'm around him."
"We can't throw him in jail because he puts out bad vibes."
"Who puts out bad vibes?" The Admiral entered the crowded small room and poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Private Timothy Duram, aka Son of Satan," Bud replied.
"Maybe that's how he keeps getting off," Sturgis suggested sarcastically.
"I wouldn't doubt it. He is so sneaky." Bud added. "I just hate it when he uses all those idioms like 'let's party' and 'it's time for some sex, drugs, rock, and roll."
"Only he seems to mean it. He told Harm at the end of the trial when he was acquitted. Before he conveniently exchanged Harm's Tylenol for crank, " Mac added.
"He told him what?" The Admiral stopped what he was doing.
"He told him that it was time for some sex, drugs and rock and roll," Bud repeated.
"Mac, didn't you say that Harm finally had his biplane repaired and was planning on taking it up today if the weather was nice?" The Admiral quizzed.
"Yes, why are you asking?" Mac started becoming concerned.
"Harm likes to take his plane up and do all those maneuvers like rolling it," The Admiral responded.
Bud and Mac both paled at the implication. They exited the small room and headed to the Admiral's office where the Admiral quickly punched in Harm's home number. He soon listened to the answering machine recording. "Commander, if you're there pick up!" He waited and then hung up and dialed Harm's cell phone only to receive a similar message.
"Tiner! Get me the Leesburg airfield now!"
*******
Harm had just finished his preflight check and wiped his hands on a rag. The sky was bright blue and the temperature was unseasonably warm...a perfect day for flying. He had called ahead the day before and had the tanks filled so that he could spend as much of the day in the air as possible. He climbed into the cockpit, turned his ball cap around and adjusted his goggles.
The old airplane sputtered as the engine cranked and rolled steadily out of the hanger and down the field ready for take off. Harm throttled up, and the plane taxied quickly down the small field and lifted up like a bird taking flight. Harm felt the usual twinge of excitement as the plane gained altitude. The golden colors of fall sparkled below, and the crisp air of early fall electrified his senses. He felt more control than he had in months. He was soon rolling and maneuvering the plane in big circles. His radio crackled after about twenty minutes of flying time. Answering the hail, he listened to the voice on the radio explain that someone may have tampered with his plane. Quickly he navigated the aircraft back towards the airfield. He was only a couple of miles away from the airfield when the first sign of malfunction occurred, the engine began to sputter and soon completely shut down. He tried unsuccessfully to restart the engine. "Come on Sarah. You've just got to stay up here a little longer," he pleaded while gliding the plane towards the airfield.
Slowly the aircraft began to lose altitude bringing it dangerously close to the treetops as Harm willed the old plane to remain airborne.
He held tightly to the controls as the airfield came into view. "Come on, just a few hundred more yards," he begged fearing that he was going to crash his cherished plane. A tall treetop scraped the bottom of the plane as he traveled the last few yards. The plane dipped quickly as a sudden down draft caught it during his final approach to the field. Sarah's wheels hit the soft grass at the end of the field, causing the plane to lurch roughly forward. The tail of the plane bucked up almost sending the plane toppling over, but the front wheels soon found the hard airstrip surface and the plane bounced back before coming to a bumpy halt.
Harm let out a long deep breath and climbed shakily out of the cockpit. Loud rock music blared from the airstrip PA system as the airstrip manager ran out on the landing field to meet him. "Are you alright? I got a call from an Admiral Chegwidden asking if you had taken off. He said that someone may have sabotaged your plane."
Harm pulled his cell phone from his jacket, turned it on and dialed JAG headquarters. "Are you alright Commander?" A strained voice responded.
"I just had a little engine trouble, but I'm okay." Harm looked warily at his plane, sending a silent prayer of thanks upward.
The Admiral quickly explained his theory as the loud music continued to blast. He turned to the airstrip manager. "Did you put on that music?"
"No, I'm the only one in the office. After I got the call, I came out here to look for your plane. Someone must have put it on while I was outside."
Sturgis and Mac drove up as Harm was inspecting the manager's office. "You okay?" Mac asked.
"Yep, there's no sign of Duram." Harm held up a portable tape player.
"I'll have the authorities check it out for fingerprints as well as the office and your plane," Sturgis added.
"You can look, but I'll bet a month's salary you won't find any trace that he's been here. Just like on my Tylenol bottle." Harm clinched his jaw. "I'm going to find that little bastard." Harm added and stormed out of the office towards his vehicle.
"Harm, he's playing with you. Besides maybe we should check your car out before you try driving it," Mac argued.
"I already checked it. I will check my house when I get home and I will check Sergei's car. I'm not going to let him hold me hostage, damnit." Harm spat angrily and walked away.
Mac ran to catch up with him and pleaded, "I know Harm, but don't do anything hastily. You're acting on your emotions. We can get him, but we have to figure a way to outsmart him."
Harm stopped and considered her pleas. Jack's warning replayed in his thoughts, 'You haven't gotten to be the talented lawyer and pilot for the Navy by being careless. Can you honestly tell me that you could be making a split second decision and not have a flashback.'
"Alright, but I'm going back to JAG with you. I want to be help trap that sonofabitch," Harm responded furiously.
*******
Mac returned to the Marine base at Quantico pretending to interview several staff membersuntil Duram showed up as she suspected he would. He smiled his sick little smile when he saw her and saluted. "Ma'am, good to see you again. Have you seen Commander Rabb? Did you give him my message?"
"I'm not here for social purposes. I have interviews to conduct Private, and you are on my list, so sit down." Her words were toxic and antagonizing.
He sneered at her command. He would be on the top of her list all right, her list of males needing castration, she thought as she watched him eye her up and down.
Duram sank down in the chair. "Private, I'm investigating another sexual assault. Another victim has recently come forward."
"But what good will it do if the three men involved are dead?"
"I didn't say when the assault took place. You assumed it wasn't a recent attack." Mac leaned close enough for him to smell her perfume.
"I just assumed that the same men that raped the others raped this one too. I believe that others would make the same mistake, Ma'am." He felt himself get excited at the thought of taking her.
"We believe that there was a fourth assailant involved. The victim claims she could identify the man who filmed the assault." Mac said coldly. "You wouldn't know anything about that would you."
Duram grinned lazily. "I don't know anything about any cameras or rapes."
"The victim was a young Latino woman. She says that they beat her until she *almost* lost consciousness. She pleaded for them to stop while this fourth man, the cameraman, directed the action. But she never lost full consciousness and believes she can identify him." Mac watched Duram for any nonverbal indication that he was unnerved, but he remained calm.
"Sorry to here that."
"Sorry for the victim or that the victim can identify the man?" Mac added icily. Duram gave her a look that again sent shivers through her, but she held her threatening gaze. "I am personally seeing that she is protected."
"I'm sure that would present *a challenge* to your rapist Ma'am." He again grinned.
*******
From a nondescript car parked outside of the secured parking lot, he watched as Mac escorted a young woman with long dark hair wearing a scarf that partially concealed her face out of the building. The two women climbed into a military vehicle and drove away from JAG headquarters. He licked his lips in anticipation as he tailed them to Mac's apartment. A lone Marine guard met them at the car and walked them into the apartment building. This would be a challenge he thought, but he loved a challenge.
He waited patiently for hours. He was good at the game, better than the others, he thought arrogantly. Quietly he climbed up on the top of the roof from the rear of the building. He pulled the stocking over his face and adjusted the knife and handcuffs for easy access. He carried a small camera in his front pocket ready to document his actions. Using ropes he shimmied down the building and used a glasscutter to remove a windowpane so he could unlock the window and lift it open. Stealthily he eased himself into the apartment and spotted someone asleep on the couch in the living room. He grinned to himself and pulled the knife. Slowly he approached his sleeping victim. His heart raced in anticipation of the kill. Carefully he removed the blanket enough to expose the beautiful Marine Colonel's face. Too bad, he thought; he would have enjoyed doing her.
Caressing the knife, he lifted his weapon ready to strike when the room was suddenly flooded with light. Mac grabbed the hand holding a knife inches from her neck and used her legs to send the intruder sprawling onto the floor. He was quickly surrounded by two armed Marine guards and three Naval officers.
Harm reached down and jerked the stocking away to reveal, to no one's surprise, Duram's face. A sick smile formed on his lips. "Trick or treat."
"You're going to Leavenworth for keeps this time Duram," Harm hissed.
"Oh, I wouldn't count on it Commander, I've got good lawyers, remember." He laughed as the two Marines cuffed him. "The cuffs bring back fond memories, don't they, Commander." He added with a sardonic leer.
Mac reached over and touched Harm's back gently as she watched him tense.
Loren Singer looking rather disheveled entered the living room wearing a long chenille robe. "You got him. Good, I'm going home," she announced flatly and picked up the wig and scarf on her way out.
"Isn't this entrapment?" Duram asked without emotion.
"Not according to the UCMJ. You're going to prison for attempted murder," Bud sneered as Strugis pushed him towards the door.
"Wait." Harm stopped them. "I have one question Duram. Why me?"
Duram grinned. "You were the Navy's poster boy. When my grandfather hauled my ass down to the recruitment office, he pointed to your poster and told me he wanted me to join the armed forces and be like you. The old buzzard told me I was behaving like a spoiled kid and a few years in the military would straighten me out. But I showed him. The poster boy now has a deep dark secret." Duram chuckled and turned to Mac giving her a lustful leer. "I would have loved doing you Colonel. Almost did the first time I saw you at the base. Too bad that other car almost ran me off the road," he huffed.
Harm and Mac exchanged a dismayed look. "Get him out of here," Harm ordered. Silently Harm and Mac watched as Bud, Sturgis and the two Marines hauled the depraved young man out of the apartment.
"Too bad he won't be convicted of the rapes of those women, but at least we got him off the streets." Mac spoke before she headed to the kitchen to put on a kettle for hot water.
Harm followed Mac into the small kitchen and pulled two cups from her cupboard. "Yea, I still wonder about the unidentified woman on the video. I can still see her face. I hope she has someone to help her."
"Rape is one of the most unreported crimes," Mac said with a grimace.
"I know," Harm replied softly.
Mac faced him and looked into his eyes seeing a flicker of pain. "Are you going to be alright?" Her hand reached out stroked his face.
He flinched at the intimacy and pulled back ever so slightly. "Yea, with the help of some pretty good friends." Harm smiled weakly avoiding eye contact.
She reached over refusing to allow him to withdraw and affectionately took his hand and squeezed it. "You know I'll always be here for you." Her eyes met his and held his gaze. He smiled as he reached out and pulled her to him. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned her cheek against his chest. They stood that way until the kettle began to whistle. She pulled back to turn the stovetop off only to have him stop her.
She looked up expectantly, as he touched her face and her lips. But instead of kissing her, he released her and turned away to pour the hot water into the cups. He offered her a cup and caught a brief look of disappointment on her features.
He leaned forward and lightly kissed her forehead. "Sarah, one day... I promise."
"I know and I'll be waiting...for as long as it takes."
********
"I've decided that I really do like to fly, and I like my job at JAG; it's challenging. I may have made those choices initially because I wanted to meet someone else's expectations and maybe earn redemption, but I've discovered I really like what I do."
"It's a whole lot easier to go to work when you like what you do instead of doing it out of obligation," Jack replied.
"I've also realized that I want to measure my successes in this life against the quality of my friendships. I've got some pretty exceptional people that I call friends. So my life apparently is alright."
"Here, here...am I on that list?" Jack added with a smirk.
"I've discovered that more good things have come out of the tragedies in my life than bad things. Mostly because I chose move forward and did something positive. Now I realize I was never alone during those times."
"Sounds very insightful."
"I also don't believe in coincidences or luck as much anymore. I believe that all the things that have happened in my life have worked together to lead me where I needed to be."
"So what's next?"
"I'm not going to worry about tomorrow, I've got today to think about."
"I'm going to miss our weekly philosophical chats."
"This is it?"
"Not exactly, I want to continue seeing you every two weeks for awhile. You have a few more milestones to reach. Besides you don't need me as much; you have some friends, remember? I especially think a lot of Mac. How about bringing her around for our next little talk."
"I think I can handle that, and thanks Jack for everything."
"You're welcome, and remember, the only thing that's certain in this life is death and taxes."
"Bad cliché."
"And the Son will rise...again."
"Oh yea!" Harm smiled and extended his hand to Father Jack O'Neill.
The End
"For He hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." II Timothy 1: 7
"Come stop your crying, and we'll be alright.
Just take my hand, hold it tight.
I will protect you from all around you
I will be here don't you cry
For one so small, you seem so strong
My arms will hold you keep you safe and warm
This bond between us can't be broken
I will be here don't you cry
Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You will be here in my heart
Always
Why can't they understand the way we feel
They just don't trust what they can't explain
I know we're different
But deep in side us
We're not that different at all
You'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Don't listen to them
Cause what do they know
We need each other to have to hold
They'll see in time
I know
When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you,
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together
Cause you'll be in my heart
Believe me, you'll be in my heart
I be there from this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
You'll be here in my heart
No matter what they say I'll be with you
Be here in my heart
I'll be there always
Always"
I'll be with you
I'll be there for you always...
Always and always
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
I'll be there always
Epilogue
Timothy Duram was pushed roughly into the solitary cell at Leavenworth after being convicted of attempted murder. No evidence could be found linking him to the rapes or the drugs planted in Harm's briefcase.
"Hey kid, what are you in for?" The voice rose from a neighboring cell.
"I didn't do anything. I was framed."
"Hey, we got something in common. What's your name, kid?"
"Tim Duram and yours?"
"Clark Palmer."
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