Author: Kimberly Knipp

Email: MCK8686@aol.com

Rating: R

Classification: Romance/soon-to-be Crossover - Harm and Mac

Spoilers: None - yet...

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The two Tomcats flew in a staggered pattern across the night sky. It was almost sunset and the end of their shift before another squad took over.

"Joker, this is Lobo. You about ready to head in?"

Lt. Commander John McKaye was now in the pilot’s seat since his former partner, Lt. Commander Harmon Rabb had returned to JAG. His RIO now was Lt. Dylan Masters. In the Tomcat off his wing flew Lt. J.D. Sweeney and Lt. Commander Matthew Teague.

"Lobo, this is Joker. We’re right behind you. Lead the way."

The two F-14s banked left to begin their descent when suddenly the roar of another jet blasted them from overhead, rocking them.

"What the hell?!" John exclaimed, turning his head to see who had flown over them that way.

"Lobo! We have two bogies at 2:00! I repeat – 2 incoming Israeli Phantoms! Break right, Lobo, right! They’re coming around!" Joker cried.

John immediately jerked the Tomcat right just as the incoming missile lock sounded in the cockpit. A Python exploded by, leaving a trail in its wake as it passed beneath them.

"Damn it to hell! Give me a position, Dylan! Where are they going?" John demanded.

"I’ve got ‘em on radar! 30 right at 40 miles. 900 knots closure!"

"Ghost Rider, we have two Phantoms up here dogging us. Do you have them on radar?" John radioed to the crew onboard the Nimitz.

"This is Ghost Rider – vector 090 for bogey."

"Let’s have it, Spook! Give me a reading!" John called to Dylan.

"I have radar and a visual, Lobo. Inbound 370 at 20 miles. 900 knots closure!" Dylan yelled.

"I’ve got two," John stated. "Repeat – two Phantoms. Do you see a trailer?" he asked.

"I have visual on two," J.D. called back answered. "Visual on two!"

Down below on the Nimitz, Captain Glenn leaned over the shoulder of the man at the radar to get a look at the tableau up above for himself. A foot away was the man communicating with the four pilots.

"What’s their position?" Captain Glenn asked the other man.

"Range 280 miles and closing."

"If they break 150 launch the emergency squad," Captain Glenn ordered.

"Yes, sir."

"Lobo! I’ve got one on my tail! I need some help here!" J.D. yelled.

"I’m on my way. 30 seconds."

John swung the Tomcat in a hard right and came up behind the Phantom on J.D.’s tail. "I’ve got him, Joker. Bring it back and help me engage! I’m going to take him down the left!" Harm snapped out.

"He’s got a lock, Lobo! He’s got a lock! Son of a bitch! Lobo, we have a trailer – repeat - I see number 3!" J.D. burst out.

Gunfire split the sky, hitting J.D. and Matt. "We’re hit! We’re hit! He’s on our tail and locked!"

"I’m on it, Joker. On three I want you to break hard right! Three, two, one – break right!"

J.D. swung the fighter to the right and John fired. The Phantom exploded, showering the air with debris. The two Tomcats came almost side by side. John looked around them and saw that the other two Phantoms had split apart. They were coming from both sides now.

"Position, Joker! Where’s the other two?" John asked, looking around through the cockpit window.

"Radar at 10 miles and closing!"

"Lobo, this is Ghost Rider. Position 180 miles bearing to 010."

"Lobo, look out!" Dylan cried.

One of the Phantoms flew right up between John and J.D.

"Damn it, we just went through his jet wash!" J.D. swore. Alarms filled the cockpit and he struggled to bring the plane back under control as it careened wildly through the twilight sky..

"Bring us around, Joker! Bring us around!" Matt yelled, feeling the plane begin a downward spiral.

J.D. finally gained control and brought the nose up. He turned the Tomcat left just as another barrage of gunfire flew toward them.

"He’s firing again!" John warned. "Break left! Break left!"

"He overshot!" J.D. yelled. "I’m coming around, Lobo! This one’s mine!" he stated.

John turned his own attention to the matter at hand. The other Phantom was swinging around behind him, trying to get a lock on them.

"Lobo, he’s engaging!" Dylan called. "Step on it! We’re slowing down!" he added.

"I’m gonna roll left and come up behind him. Hang on!" John answered.

"Do it!" Dylan told him.

John braked hard and rolled the Tomcat to the left. The world spun crazily for a second and then righted as they came in line behind the Phantom. "I’m taking the shot! Joker, I ma taking my shot!"

Suddenly, alarms filled the cockpit. "Number two’s on our tail, Lobo! Joker, we need help! Number two has locked us in – repeat – number two has locked us in!" Dylan cried furiously. "He’s firing, Hammer! He’s firing!"

Without warning, Harm slammed on the brakes and jerked the Tomcat hard left. The Phantom in the back flew straight over their heads, his missile going wild into the air. John immediately came up behind him.

"Dead ahead! Dead ahead!" Dylan told him.

"We are locked and firing!" John answered

The missile lock sounded again, this time their own, and John fired. His aim was true and the Sidewinder hit the Phantom, blowing it apart.

"One to go, Lobo! One to go!" Joker said.

"I’ve lost visual!" J.D.’s voice broke in. "Repeat – I cannot see the remainder!"

"Joker, he’s coming up behind us! Coming up behind us! Can you get a lock?" John called.

"We have a visual, Lobo! We have a visual!" J.D. shouted. I’ve got him right down the middle. Break away, Lobo! Break away!"

John snapped the Tomcat nearly straight up, climbing away from the Phantom. J.D.‘s radar locked in and he fired. An instant later the last of the Phantoms exploded.

"Ghost Rider, this is Lobo. The enemy threat is neutralized. I repeat – we have destroyed the three Phantoms and we’re coming home."

It was a joyous sight when the two Tomcats landed. Most of the flight crew were on deck to greet them, cheering and hoisting them down form their places. The four pilots accepted the congratulations good-naturedly as they made their way into the ready room.

"Commander McKaye, I have a telegram for you," One of the young ensigns called just as John started to head for his quarters.

"Thank you," he answered, taking the envelope.

"Yes, sir.

In his quarters, John dropped his helmet on the bunk and lowered his tall frame to the mattress, sighing tiredly. He ripped open the envelope and slid the paper out. The telegram he held clutched in his hand was short and to the point:

Lt. Commander John McKaye stared blankly at the scrap of yellow paper. Then the reality of its words sank in.

"No," he whispered in the silence of his quarters. "No."

Getting up, John went through the maze of halls that were the heart of the USS NIMITZ to the communications room.

"Commander, sir, what brings you down here this time of night?" The young petty officer smiled

"I need to make a call to this number," John answered.

"Yes, sir." A moment later he handed John a phone.

"Hello?"

"Mary? It’s John."

Instantly the woman on the other end of the line began to cry. "Oh, John, they’ve taken my baby! Took her right in broad daylight. You have to come. We can’t trust anyone else to…" her words tripped over themselves in a rush.

"Whoa, Mary, slow down. Did you call the police?"

"Heavens, no! They made it very clear they would kill her if we called anyone," she answered.

John sighed. "Who took her, Mary, and what do they want?"

"We don’t know. All they said was that she was safe for now and they would be in touch later. That was three days ago."

"Please, John, I know after all that happened you probably hate us but we need your help. We have no one else to…"

"Mary," John interrupted. "Forget about what happened before. Let’s just focus on right now. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Sit tight and don’t do anything else, okay?"

"All right. We’ll see you soon."

"Hey, Marine."

Mac smiled to herself and casually lifted her head to the tall man framed in her office doorway. "Hey yourself, Sailor."

"Admiral wants to see us ASAP."

"What have we done this time?" she sighed, coming to her feet.

He flashed her that grin that always weakened her knees. "Don’t know."

They walked together across the bullpen and waited while PO Tiner announced them. Once inside they came to attention and saluted.

"At ease. Have a seat," Admiral Chegwidden ordered.

"Aye, sir."

"Yes, sir."

They made themselves comfortable and waited for him to speak. A.J. stood at the window for a moment longer, staring out at the early morning sky. Finally, he turned and sat down behind his desk, leaning forward and lacing his fingers together.

"I have a new assignment for you and it’s going to require all of your attention so I’m reassigning the rest of your caseload."

Harm and Mac glanced at each other. "Is it that big, sir?" Harm asked.

"I believe so, Mr. Rabb. And it involves someone you know. A friend of yours from what I hear."

Harm grew more confused. "I don’t understand, sir."

"Lt. Commander McKaye has gone AWOL, Commander Rabb, and the Navy wants him found immediately."

Harm’s eyes grew wide at the Admiral’s statement. "AWOL? John? No way. He would never do something like that," he stated emphatically. "He’s a legend, Admiral, in more ways than one. He would never, never risk his career like this."

"He will and has, Commander. He’s been gone for over a week now. They took shore leave Friday, Saturday and Sunday of last week. It is now Friday a week later and they still have no word from him. The ship is underway and no one has any clue where Commander McKaye is. No one evens knows where he went when they went ashore. That’s what I want the two of you to find out.

Captain Glenn called me personally on this and specifically requested that you be assigned to this, Harm. He thinks John may be in some kind of trouble," A.J. answered.

Harm frowned. "Trouble? What kind of trouble?"

"Two nights before they went ashore he made a ship-to-shore call at 2:30 in the morning. Petty Officer Steiner heard part of the conversation and it appears that someone Commander McKaye knows was kidnapped. Captain Glenn thinks that’s where he may have taken off to."

"Kidnapped? John doesn’t have any family left. The only person he’s close to – well, he used to be close to is Britain…" Harm’s voice drifted off as the thought took hold.

"Who’s Britain?" Mac asked, speaking for the first time.

"They were almost married a year or so ago but it didn’t work out. I know he still loves her. We talked about it some when I was onboard the carrier," Harm explained.

"Well, then, I’d say you have a good place to start. I want you on this immediately. Do whatever you have to do, go wherever you have to go, got it?" Admiral Chegwidden asked.

"Got it." They stated in unison, rising to their feet to salute.

"Dismissed."

Back in Mac’s office, Harm ran an agitated hand through his hair, standing it on end. "Something is very wrong. I know John, Mac. He wouldn’t go AWOL like that. For crying out loud, he has twenty years in and he was a SEAL!" Harm growled in frustration.

"You told me about that after you came home. You also told me he never said exactly how an ex-SEAL ended up flying on a carrier," she answered calmly. Getting up, Mac walked around the front of the desk where he was sitting on the corner of it. "We need to find a place to start, Harm, and we’ll find him. Me and you," she smiled tenderly, slipping her arm around his shoulders.

Harm leaned against her, his head even with hers since he was sitting down. He slipped his arm around her waist and leaned his forehead against hers. "I love you," he murmured.

Mac smiled. "I love you, too, Sailor."

"John had a lot to do with me finding my way back to you, Mac. And I owe him a lot. If something has happened to Britain then we need to find them both. I won’t ask you to risk your life with me on this if it turns ugly," he stated softly, pulling back just far enough to look into her eyes.

"I’ll be at your side every step of the way. You’re crazy if you think I won’t," she teased gently. "We’re partners, remember? If you go, I go."

He wanted to kiss her but didn’t since they were in full view of the rest of the office through the window. They managed to keep most of their professional distance but they were still mindful because technically they shouldn’t be involved I a relationship with each other. "John told me she was stationed at Ft. Hood. She was born and raised in Texas and her parents live someplace close by. I think we should start there and go talk to them."

Mac nodded. "Fine. Then I suggest we get packed and get moving."

A military transport was able to get them to their destination almost immediately. Their first stop was to see Admiral Michael Cruise – the commanding officer of a special warfare unit that handled some of the testing and development of Navy tactics and weapons. Lt. Commander Britain McShane answered only to this man. She was the testing and research engineer for new weapons.

"Commander Rabb, Major MacKenzie, please come in," Admiral Cruise greeted, smiling as he rose from his desk.

Harm and Mac saluted and he responded for them to be at ease and have a seat. They did so and the Admiral returned to his chair.

"I understand you’re looking for Commander McShane?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," Harm answered.

"Has something happened to her?" he asked.

"Not that we know, sir. This involves someone she knows and we just need to ask her a few questions," Mac explained.

"Well, she took leave a week ago. She still has another week to go. I can give you the address to her parents’ home if you’d like. That’s where I understood her to be going," he answered.

"Thank you, sir. We appreciate it," Harm told him.

Thirty minutes later they were pulling into the driveway of a well groomed home in an affluent section of Kingsville, Texas. Getting out the sedan, Harm and Mac went up to the front door and knocked. A minute later a petite, older woman with careful styled silver hair answered.

"May I help you?" she asked, barely peeking around the door.

"Are you Mrs. McShane?" Harm asked politely.

"Who are you?" she countered.

"Lt. Commander Harmon Rabb and Major Sarah MacKenzie from JAG. We’re lawyers, ma’am, and we’re looking for Britain McShane. We spoke to her CO, Admiral Cruise, this morning and he directed us this way."

"Ummm, come in," she stammered, moving backward to let them pass.

"Mary, who is it?" A tall, distinguished man came into view behind her.

"Lawyers from JAG. They’re looking for Britain," The woman named Mary answered.

"Then you are Mr. and Mrs. McShane?" Mac asked carefully.

"Yes, Major, won’t you sit down?" The man indicated a room off to their right and they all went in and took seats.

The older couple was extremely nervous and it didn’t go unnoticed by Mac and Harm, who glanced sideways at each other.

"Britain isn’t here with us. She decided to go down to the coast for her vacation," William McShane explained.

"I see," Harm answered. "Mr. and Mrs. McShane, we’ve been assigned to an investigation concerning Lt. Commander John McKaye. I was stationed with Commander McKaye onboard the Nimitz and I know there is a history between him and Commander McShane.

We wanted to talk to Britain to see if she had heard from Commander McKaye recently. Do you know where we can find her?" Harm asked again.

"I’m not even sure where she is, Commander Rabb. She doesn’t report to us, I’m afraid," he forced a laugh and looked at Mary.

"We can try leaving a message at the number she left for us. I’m sorry we can’t do more," Mary put in.

Harm and Mac exchanged glances again. "Please do that and we’ll leave you the number at our hotel. It’s very important that we talk to Commander McShane. Please tell that if you talk to her at all," Harm emphasized.

"Certainly, Commander Rabb. We’ll have her contact you," William assured them.

"Thank you for your time," Harm told them, rising to his feet.

Mac handed them one of her cards with the name and room number of their hotel and the pair left the house.

"Something fishy is going on," Harm muttered as they made their way back to Killeen.

"Do you think they’re not telling the truth about Britain?" Mac asked.

"I don’t know," he sighed.

"Let’s give them a little time and see what happens," she suggested.

At the hotel they carried their suitcases to their rooms – separate ones for appearances sake – and then changed clothes and went for dinner.

Back at the McShane house…

"Do you think they suspect something?" Mary asked.

"They might if they were looking for her but they’re not. They’re looking for me," John stated as he walked into the room.

"Why would they be looking for you, son?" William asked.

"Because no one knows where I am," John answered.

"What? I thought you were on leave?" Mary asked.

"We took shore leave for 3 days and when everyone else went back, I didn’t. I imagine they long since reported me as AWOL," he told her matter-of-factly.

"Oh, my God, son, that’ll ruin your career!" William thundered.

"I don’t care. Nothing is more important to me than finding her. Even if I have to go from one end of this earth to the other to do it. I will get her back and the military isn’t going to stop me." John stated grimly.

"What about that Commander Rabb? He said he was stationed with you and he knew about your relationship with Britain. Is he a friend?" William wanted to know.

"He is but I can’t risk involving him or Mac in this. It could ruin their careers as well."

"But maybe they can help. Get information for you or something," Mary insisted, twisting her hands together.

"I can’t risk it, Mary," John repeated. "Not with them."

0320 ZULU

MARRIOTT HOTEL

KILLEEN, TEXAS

Mac finished her nightly routine and giving herself one final look in the mirror, left the bathroom and walked to the door that connected her room with Harm’s. Quietly, she opened the door and slipped through. Harm was standing at the window, moonlight silhouetting his tall form. She walked up behind him and slipped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his bare back. Harm smiled to himself and covered her small hands with his own, adjusting his stance to take hold of her slight weight.

"You all right?" she asked softly.

"I’m fine," he answered, turning to face her.

Music was playing in the background of the dark room. Mac smiled up at him, loving the way he looked at her. After much talking, they’d decided to move slowly with their relationship for the time being – especially since they were breaking all sorts of rules. Admiral Chegwidden had more or less turned a blind eye to them but they didn’t want to let him down or force his hand either so they maintained separate residences and only spent the weekend nights together.

Harm lifted his hand and touched her cheek, drawing his fingertips over the smooth curve of her skin. "Do you remember the night we stood on the porch at King’s house?" he asked softly.

"Yes. I was trying so hard to bridge the distance between us."

"I wanted you so bad. Having you that close to me and trying keep my distance…" he shook his head slightly. "All I’ve ever wanted is to love you, Mac. Since that very first day in the rose garden."

"We have the rest of our lives ahead of us now," she smiled tenderly. "I’m never going to leave you, Harm. I couldn’t even if I wanted to."

"Do you remember the song playing in their bedroom that we danced to?" he asked.

Mac shook her head. "I just remember that it was playing. I was too wrapped up in you to notice anything else," she admitted.

"I asked King about it later. This time I want to dance to it with you in my arms," he smiled. "It’s about to come on."

He drew her to middle of the floor as the CD changed to the next song and drew her close against him. Clad as they were – Harm in boxers and Mac in a satin halter and shorts set – their bare skin touched everywhere. Sighing, Mac slid her arms around his neck and snuggled close.

Harm slowly slid his hands down her back and then up again, into her hair. He tilted her head back and pressed a kiss to the corner of her eye then one on her cheekbone and then the corner of her mouth.

The music swirled around them wrapping them up tighter and tighter

Slowly, Harm bent and slipped one arm beneath her knees and then straightened, cradling her against his chest.

"Where are we going?" she whispered against his mouth.

"It’s a surprise," he told her.

He carried her into the bathroom where dozens of candles were lit, throwing flickering shadows along the walls and on the water swirling the Jacuzzi. He slowly lowered her legs so she could stand and then kissed her again, deeper this time.

He lifted his head and smiled that little half smile of his. "I wanted to do something nice for you."

Mac looked at the tub again and then back to him, touched by the obvious effort he’d gone through. There had to be at least two dozen candles of various shapes and sizes and scents and floating in the water were mounds of rose petals. Beautiful, lush rose petals.

More of the same were rested everywhere. On the floor, the towels, the counter, next to the candles…

"When did you do all this?"

"Before you came in," he muttered distractedly, his hands moving down her body.

Drawing her over to the tub, he undressed her one piece at a time until she stood before him, smiling shyly from beneath her lashes. Harm stripped his own clothes and then lowered himself into the tub. Holding Mac’s hand, he helped her in and settled her in front of him, her legs wrapped around his lean hips.

Mac sighed dreamily. "The water feels heavenly."

Harm picked up a large sponge and squeezed water over her shoulders, watching the soapy water sluice down the slope of her breasts. Mac’s eyes drifted shut and she rested her cheek on his shoulder as he bathed her, sensuously dragging the sponge over all the areas he could reach. He dropped the sponge in the water with a soft plop and pulled her closer. Mac felt the stirring of his manhood and wiggled against him, feeling his groan against her breasts.

"You missed a spot," she whispered.

"No, I didn’t. I just saved the best for last."

His hand slid below the bubblesr. As he continued his gentle foray, Mac found the sponge and made her own path over the hard planes of his body, her breath catching every now and again as he taunted her. A moan of need slipped from his own throat when Mac’s fingers found him as well.

Holding her close against him, Harm carefully lifted her up and then brought her back down, joining their bodies together. Lovingly, his lips trailed over her wet skin, tracing the contours of her shoulders, her arms, her neck… Taunting her, he pushed her body to the edge and then withdrew, ignoring the clutch of her hands and the pleas in her hoarse voice. Unable and unwilling to wait any longer, Harm began to move against her. Consumed with the need to be a part of her - body and soul, he plunged deep. Mac’s ragged moans urged him on, his hands clutching her hips as they moved together. It was over all too soon when they stumbled over the edge of the precipice together, their cries mingling as shudders racked their bodies.

"I love you so very much," she whispered hoarsely against his neck where her face was pressed.

"I love you, too, Sarah, more than you’ll probably ever know."

1030 ZULU

HARM’S HOTEL ROOM

KINGSVILLE, TEXAS

A knock on their door at five thirty couldn’t have been more unexpected. Luckily they were up and dressed, getting ready to leave for a run. Glancing at Mac, Harm strode across the room and opened the door.

And felt his knees weaken with relief.

"Where the hell have you been?" he demanded in a low voice, stepping out to look up and down the hall.

"Hiding out," John answered as Harm urged him inside.

Harm shut the door and turned back to his friend. "I was worried about you. How could you do something so stupid?"

John looked between Harm and Mac, who remained quiet. "If someone kidnapped her, wouldn’t you do whatever you absolutely had to – no matter what - to get her back?"

That stopped Harm in his tracks as his mind instantly raced back to all the months before when the call came from Bud that Mac had disappeared from her hotel room in the middle of the night.

"She was and I went after her the second I found out," Harm stated flatly, looking at Mac. She smiled and came over to his side. "It was the worse time of my life not knowing where she was or if I’d ever see her again."

"Then you know why I’m doing this. Her parents were ordered not to contact anyone and they know if she can be rescued at all then I can do it," John returned. Harm opened his mouth to speak but the older man held up one hand.

"And before you say it – my career wouldn’t be worth spit if she were dead so it doesn’t matter what they do to me as long as I find her and bring her home. I’m just a silhouette without her, Harm. I know you can understand that better than anyone. All this other stuff, my career, this so-called Legend everyone makes me out to be – it means nothing with her gone," he finished, his expression solid and closed off.

"Why don’t you sit down and tell us what’s going on?" Harm suggested, redirecting the conversation. "Maybe there’s a way we can help. But first," he paused and tugged Mac forward to his side. "This is Mac. Mac, Commander John McKaye."

Mac smiled fully and squeezed the hand John held out. "I feel like I already know you since Harm has talked about you so much."

"Same here. I heard more about you than you probably think when we were onboard the Nimitz," John’s eyes twinkled slightly.

The three sat down – Harm and Mac on the bed and John in a chair. John sighed and pulled something from his pocket, handing it to Harm. "This was sent to Mary and William right after they took Brie. Mary sent me a telegram immediately after and I came here to help. They called once before I got here but made no demands. They only said that if Mary and William notified the law then they would kill Brie instantly. We can’t take that chance."

"Then at least let us help," Harm persisted.

"How? I can’t let you get involved in this, Harm. It would ruin both you and Mac for aiding and abetting. You know you can’t risk it," John insisted.

"You let us worry about that," Harm retorted. "I’d say you need all the help you can get and we are supposed to be investigating your disappearance. I won’t give up on this, John. You know me better than that."

John stared hard at his former co-pilot. "I can’t talk you out of this, can I?" he finally asked.

Harm shook his head. "No way. But we are going to need more help with this," he continued.

"No, we can’t bring anyone else in," John jumped to his feet and started pacing angrily. "We’ll get her killed."

"Not if they don’t know anyone else is involved. There are people we can trust, John. And I know just who to start with."

The knock on the door was sharp and brief. John had long ago departed, going back to the McShane house where they found out he’d been all along - even when they were there. Harm jerked open his hotel door and found Webb on the other side, hands stuffed in his pants pockets, jacket hanging open and tie askew.

"You rang?" Webb drawled by way of greeting.

Harm stepped back to let him in. "We did. We need your help."

Webb greeted Mac and walked to the center of the room, turning a small circle. "Can I assume this has something to do with Commander McKaye’s disappearance?"

Harm arched one eyebrow. "I guess I don’t need to ask how you found out about that."

Webb lifted the corner of his mouth in a sardonic smile. "No, Rabb, you don’t. Do you know where he is?"

Harm sighed, debating on whether or not to lie. "He came to see us but we don’t know for sure where he went when he left here. Someone he was once involved with has been kidnapped. No one else knows she’s missing except for John and her parents and now us. Her parents were strictly warned that if they notified anyone she would be killed immediately. They called John because they had no one else to turn to," Harm explained.

"Any idea why they took her?" Webb asked.

"Not yet. But she works at Kingsville NAS in special warfare. Mac and I think it could be related to that. She’s in charge of most of the testing and design of special weapons," Mac put in.

Webb nodded thoughtfully. "That’s possible. Why don’t you let me check into what she was working on? You said no one else knows she’s missing? What about her superiors?"

"Admiral Cruise said she took two weeks of leave. This is supposed to be her second week so they don’t anything is amiss. We’ll have to find some way to deal with it if we don’t have her back before then," Harm stated.

"Let me get on it and I’ll get back to you. You have my word that I won’t endanger her with whoever’s kidnapped her," Webb promised.

"See to it that you don’t, Webb. I can’t stress to you how important this is," Harm threatened softly.

Webb just grinned sarcastically at him and left the hotel room.

The phone was ringing when they came back in from dinner. Harm sighed and rolled his eyes and Mac giggled and he answered it.

"Rabb. King! Hey, man, how are you?"

Mac jumped up and came over to sit next to him on the bed, fairly bouncing with excitement.

"Good. I hear y’all are in our neck of the woods?" King drawled.

"We’re on an investigation. How is everyone?" Harm asked.

"Still kickin’," The other man stated and Harm could hear the smile in his voice. "We expect to see y’all out here at the house some time before you head home."

"You know we wouldn’t miss it. And Mac would kick my six all the way home if I didn’t bring her out to see Storm," Harm teased, laughing when Mac punched him in the arm.

"Same with Storm," King chuckled. "Why don’t you give us a call on Friday and let me know how your schedule looks? W e don’t want to get in the way of your investigation."

"Sounds good. We can’t wait to see you," Harm answered.

He hung up a moment later and turned to Mac.

"Are we going to go out there?" she asked.

He nodded. "As soon as we’re able."

Just then there was a knock on the door and the tall Commander sighed again as he rose. "This place is worse then Grand Central Station."

Mac only laughed.

On the other side of the door stood a tall man dressed in the standard Texas fare of pressed blue jeans and boots only he was wearing a white Stetson and holding a sport coat.

"Travis! W e just got off the phone with King," Harm greeted, stepping back to allow him to enter as he shook hands with him.

"I suppose he wants y’all to come out," Travis grinned, hugging Mac as she rose to greet him, too.

"As soon as we can make it," she laughed.

"As much as I wish this was a pleasure stop, I’m here on business," Travis answered. "I had a private meeting this afternoon with Special Agent Clayton Webb."

"Webb! How do you know Webb?" Harm asked as the four of them found seats around the room.

"I didn’t but he worked with my Captain once upon a time and called in a favor. But it wouldn’t have mattered ‘cause I would have come anyway had I known it was for you and Mac. He said you’re working on an AWOL case that relates to a kidnapping here in Kingsville," Travis continued.

Harm sighed. "A man I flew with on the Nimitz went AWOL after he was notified of her disappearance."

Briefly, Harm gave Travis the details of the case so far. "It’s imperative that we keep this under wraps for as long as possible since we don’t even have an idea of who took her."

"Webb made that clear and you know you can trust me with it. I know the area, Harm, and I can make use of my contacts to help you find her," Ty stated quietly. "You know my own personal histories makes me the most qualified."

Harm nodded and felt Mac squeeze his hand. The man across from them, one of the middle McKenzie brothers, had gone through hell with his wife, Jenny, when she was held captive during a trial

"There’s another Ranger I work with and he’s the very best we have – bar none. With your permission I’d like to bring him in on this. He has ways of finding things out that continue to amaze people. I know you want as few people as possible involved but you need all the help you can get and I guarantee you it will be safe with him," Travis explained.

Harm looked at Mac for her guidance.

"They’re right, Harm. We were sent here to help John and the best way to do that is to get him back to D.C. Even though he’ll fight it all the way we should get him out of the picture and then concentrate on getting Britain back. It still falls under our jurisdiction since she’s Navy," Mac pointed out.

Harm nodded slowly. "You’re right. We’ll deal with John later." He looked back to Travis. "We would appreciate anything you’re able to do and I know we can trust you and this other Ranger you’re referring to,"

"We won’t let you down, Harm – promise," Travis stated, rising to his feet. "Now I need to get on home. I’ll be in touch with you before the week is out," he told them and then he was gone.

Harm turned to Mac, his face troubled. She slipped her arms around his waist and leaned against him, tucking her face into the warm curve of his neck. Breathing deeply of her scent, he splayed his hands over her back and held her close, burying his nose in her hair.

"I’m worried about John. He’s not going to reasonable about this at all."

"Would you have been?" she murmured.

She felt Harm shake his head. "But I wasn’t AWOL, either. If I had been the Admiral would have buried me no matter what the circumstances."

"We’ll just have to convince him that it’ll be best for him to trust us with this. Maybe he’ll come around on his own," she tried to reassure him.

"Maybe," Harm echoed. "Thank you," he whispered, tilting his head down to kiss her tenderly.

"For what?" she asked, touching a finger to his cheek.

"For being here with me. For supporting me," he answered.

"I’m your partner," she reminded him, teasing gently.

"You’re much more than that to me," he grinned. "More than you’ll probably ever realize."

"We’d like your permission to go take a look at Britain’s home."

"I’ll take you over there. I’ve already been over it myself and it’s not pretty. She put up a hell of a fight," John interjected, sparing a slight glance at William and Mary, who would let him do whatever it took to find Brie.

"Then let’s get moving. We can’t afford to waste any time with this," Harm stated.

John nodded and pushed away from the wall where he was leaning. "My car or yours?"

Thirty minutes later they pulled into the driveway of a small, white house with a little garden in the front and a towering oak partially shading the front. The three of them got out and stood at the curb for a moment.

"Do you know when they took her?" Harm asked John.

John shook his head. "I have a good guess based on the last time Mary talked to her but I can’t be sure. I made a thorough search of the house but there’s nothing to tell me who might have done this."

The look on the older man’s face touched Harm because he’d been there. "It frustrated the hell out of you, doesn’t it? Not knowing where she is or who took her? I have no problem admitting that I nearly went out of my mind when Mac was taken."

Harm’s eyes slid to Mac’s and John could have wept at the emotion he witnessed between them. Once upon a time he’d shared that closeness with Brie – and he’d thrown it all away like the fool he was.

The trio turned and started up the circular drive toward the front door. Suddenly, a tremendous explosion rent the morning air and where stood the house, was now a flaming inferno.

End Silhouette