Title:  The Prisoner ( Season One) - Shipper Version
Author: Val Frey
E-mail: vmf@onemain.com
Rating: PG
Summary:  The season one episode with Mac replacing Meg.  I
added and changed some things just to make it "shipper friendly"
Disclaimer:  I don't own them. Some guy in California does.
What's his name?  Don something or another.  I'm just having fun.
Author's Note: I couldn't find the correct spelling of the islands
mentioned in the episode, so I gave it my best phoenetic shot.
______________________________________________________


Nantou, China
Xi Chang Province Army Garrison

The guard looked up when he saw the two officers approaching.
He quickly grabbed the keys to the cell when the Colonel motioned
for him to follow.  Captain Lishi was accompanying the Colonel in
order to see the new prisoner, an American who had been brought
in a few hours ago.

The guard heard the commanding officer informing the Captain
that the prisoner was to be her only concern for the next few days.
Apparently the man who had been captured was suppose to know
what the U.S. intended to do if China attempted to reclaim the
islands of Matsu and Camoi from Taiwan.  The Captain was not
pleased by this turn of events, but what could she do?  She could
follow orders just as he did.

They reached the cell, and the guard unlocked the door and swung
it open .  The Colonel motioned Captain Lishi to look into the cell.
The prisoner lay on the floor, bruised and disoriented. He slowly
raised his head and turned to look in the direction of the door.

'What the hell did I get myself into this time?'  That was the only
coherent thought running through Lt. Commander Harmon Rabb,
Jr's, brain as the flashlight's unmerciful beams blinded him.

______________________________________________________
United States Consul General
Hong Kong

Mac stood waiting impatiently outside the elevator doors.  She and
Commander Allison Krennick were here to appraise Assistant
Secretary David Bair of Harm's status.  That, and Krennick had
been sent to take over Harm's duties as the Maritme Law specialist
on this case.  Mac didn't give a damn about the islands or who had
the legal right to them.  All she was concerned with was finding
Harm.  Fortunately, for once, she and Krennick agreed on
something: find Harm then worry about the damn islands.

The doors slid open to reveal Secretary Bair, who as usual, was
grumpy and unconcerned with anything but his own agenda. He
motioned Mac and Krennick to follow him, and as they walked
toward the office, the Commander tried to fill him in on Harm's
disappearance.

"So you're telling me that JAG's Maritime Law expert has gone
AWOL.  Oh, wonderful, Commander."

"He is not AWOL, Mr. Secretary. He is missing."  Krennick's
haughty tone somehow got through to the man, and he actually
asked what they knew about the situation.

'He almost sounds concerned.  If he wasn't such a jackass, I might
even believe him.'  Mac gave the man a glare before answering his
question.  "I left Harm Saturday night.  He was suppose to sail the
following day with Maria Elena..."

"Carmalita Romero Guttierez." Krennick finished with disdain
dripping from each word.  "She's some flight attendant he finds
attractive for whatever reason."

Mac could have laughed at Krennick's obvious dislike of the
multi-named woman if the hurt she felt hadn't been so great.  'Why
didn't he want to take me?  Why her?  She's only using him.'

Mac's thoughts were cut short when she realized both Krennick
and Secretary Bair were waiting for her to continue.  "Her flight
schedule was changed, and Harm sailed alone yesterday."

Bair gave them both a look that said he didn't trust them.  "How do
I know this isn't some kind of JAG trick?"

Unfortunately, Mac didn't get a chance at the man; Krennick beat
her to it. "Lt. Commander Rabb's sailboat was found floating on
the South China sea.  No body has been found."

Secretary Bair tried to look contrite, but it was obvious all he was
concerned with was his proposal to the President.  "Commander
Krennick, you will be assisting me in formulating a plan to the
President.  Major MacKenzie, you will handle the investigation of
our missing Lt. Commander."

Krennick shot Mac a look that said "Who died and made him
God?"

Mac decided that just maybe having Krennick along this time
wouldn't be so bad.  At least she didn't have to watch her try and
grope Harm at every turn.  When Mac realized her thoughts, she
had to fight back tears.  'I'd give anything to be able to help Harm
ward off her advances right now.  At least he be here, safe, with
me.'

______________________________________________________
Nantou, China
Xi Chang Province Army Garrison

Harm sat in a chair staring at the woman who was obviously going
to try and interrogate him.  His head felt like it had jackhammers
in it, and his stomach was doing a good imitation of a roller
coaster, but at least he could think straight.

"Why haven't I seen someone from the embassy?  I've been
demanding that for the last two hours."

The woman sneered. " Why, you're being accused of espionage."

Harm glared back and explained that he was an American citizen
pleasure sailing in international waters when a Chinese vessel
rammed his boat and he was kidnapped.

"And just how do you define International waters?"

"I don't.  The law of the sea does."

"You seem to know a great deal about Maritime Law, but then I
suppose a JAG lawyer should.  Wouldn't you agree, Lt.
Commander Rabb?"

Harm decided to keep the bluff going as long a he could. "Okay,
I'm a Naval officer, but I was sailing for pleasure. I'm on leave."

"I know why you're here, Commander.  Will the United States
retaliate if China attempts to reclaim Matsu and Camoi?"

'Well, I guess the game is up.'  Harm's thought was followed by his
answer. He looked her dead in the eye. "Yes."

"Prove it."  Lishi's face was inches from his, but Harm refused to
say another word.

Harm didn't know what he had expected, but Lishi's withdrawal
wasn't one of them.  She went to stand at the table in the front of
the room.

"You know, Commander, Americans have been coming through
this garrison since the Vietnam war.  Maybe even someone you
know was or still is here.  Someone like your father, perhaps."

She heard Harm's quick intake of breath and knew she'd played her
cards right.  With a look of triumph, Lishi approached Harm and
asked if he'd like to know more about his father.

"Of course I want to know about my father, but how could I be
sure that what you told me was the truth?"

"Give me the information I need concerning  U.S. involvement,
and I'll tell you everything I know about your father."

Twenty-eight years he'd waited, wondered, hoped.  Now this
woman was offering him the answers he'd searched for.  All she
wanted was some proof about the United States position on the
islands.  It would be so easy.  Too easy.

"Harmon Rabb, Jr.,  Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy.
989548301.  October 25, 1963."

Lishi listened to his choice and then shook her head.  The next
thing Harm felt was a needle going into his arm, and then the room
began to spin.

______________________________________________________
Mac walked along beside Commander Krennick and Lt. Chang.
He was the civilian police officer assigned to the case.  The
wreckage had been recovered and was being stored in a
warehouse.  As they entered the doors of the facility, Mac
immediately began to look for the wreckage.  When she saw it, her
heart stopped.  The sailboat was torn in half, and pieces of it, both
large and small, consumed the area.  Mac noticed  a piece with
gray paint on it.

Lt. Chang had been telling them that it was most likely an oil
tanker that had struck Harm's boat.  Mac knew oil tankers weren't
painted gray.  Military vessels were.  Harm's boat had been
rammed by a Chinese military ship.  When Mac voiced her
suggestion, neither Chang nor Krennick disagreed with her. She
almost wished they had.  The gray paint proved one thing: Harm's
accident was no such thing.  Her partner and best friend had been
kidnapped by the Chinese government.

______________________________________________________
Xi Chang Province Army Garrison

Harm was floating in a drug induced haze.  It wasn't so bad. If he
looked up, he could see Mac.  God, she was beautiful.  She was his
partner and best friend, but he wanted her to be so much more.
Her smile always brightened his day, no matter how bad it was,
and with Krennick around his days could be pretty bad. Mac's
laughter made him happy, and just looking at her was enough to
make him smile.

The door opened, and Lishi returned. 'Oh, goody. Time for round
two.'  Harm smiled at his own joke.

Lishi wanted to know how he was. 'I'm drugged and being held
prisoner in a communist country.  How the hell do you think I am?'
Harm decided that trying to be cooperative might get him further,
so he answered Lishi with a slight slur to his words.  "Oh, I'm
fine."

"Good.  Now tell me why you were in China."

Harm gave her a goofy smile.  "Maria Elena Carmelita Romero
Guttierez."  He said it again just for the heck of it, but for some
reason Lishi didn't find it amusing.

'That's funny, because Mac didn't think it was funny either.  She
seemed upset when I told her I was going to go sailing with Maria.
I really wanted to take Mac with me, but I was afraid I'd do
something stupid, like kiss her till she couldn't stand up, and I don't
want to ruin our friendship.'  Harm's thoughts swam in his head
while he listened to Lishi demanding to know answers. 'Okay lady,
you want answers, here they are.'

Harm proceeded to give the Captain lots of useless information on
carriers stationed in the area and submarines in the vicinity.  He
even threw in dimensions and classes of subs just to make it
interesting.  Apparently the woman didn't find his vast knowledge
impressive, because she had him removed by the guards.

'Wonder where I'm going now?'  Harm's thoughts received no
answer, and a little more hope died.

The cell was dank, dark and cold, but it was an improvement over
listening to Captain Lishi grill him.  He wasn't going to give them
what they wanted.  What would they do with him?  Did anyone
know where he was?  Did Mac think he was dead?  What was her
reaction when she heard the news?  All questions. No answers.

Suddenly, Harm heard a faint tapping from somewhere below him.
Morse code: "Are you American?"  Quickly grabbing a can that
had been left in the cell, he replied to the question with a "yes".
The tapping didn't return, but a voice drifted up to him.  The voice
was repeating lines from John Wayne movies.

'I'm losing it,' Harm muttered to himself.  That was the only
explanation that made sense.  But some part of his mind wanted to
believe he wasn't alone.  "Who are you?"  Only silence greeted his
question.

______________________________________________________
Mac sat and listened to Lieutenant Chang give his final report to
Secretary Bair.  The paint found on the sailboat was indeed
Chinese.  The Hong Kong police would contact Beijing, but
officially the investigation was over.  The officer informed them
that he was making "other" inquires.

Mac quickly questioned Chang, but all he would say was that he
had contacts that might be able to help.  With that he had exited
the room, and Mac was left to return to the gut-wrenching fear that
had stalked her since the news of Harm's disappearance.

Krennick was trying to get Bair to see that the Chinese had Harm
in order to interrogate him about the islands.  The secretary, being
his usual pain-in-the-six self, refused to do anything to help Harm
until he had more evidence.

Something inside Mac snapped. This pompous politician didn't
care what happened to Harm as long as his reputation was kept
clean.  She stood up from her chair and walked over to Bair,
throwing the folder regarding the proposal for the islands in his
face.  "Tell me something, Mr. Secretary, will Harmon Rabb's
body be enough evidence for you!"  Mac turned and walked out of
the office, slamming the door behind her.  She didn't stop until the
elevator doors closed behind her.  Only then did she allow the tears
to fall.

'I'll find you Harm. I swear I will, and when I do, you better have a
damn good explanation for putting me through this hell.'  She
could picture Harm trying to sweet talk her.  It made her smile
through the tears.  She'd find him and when she did........

______________________________________________________
Harm hated his calendar at work.  All it did was remind him of
how much he had to do and how far behind he was in doing it.
Right now, he'd give his pension for a calendar.  He picked up a
shard of glass and added another mark on the wall.  The first one
had been drawn yesterday when the guards had thrown him in the
cell.  Just as he was finishing, the glass slipped and cut his finger.

"Damn!"

The "voice" called out from below asking if he was hurt.  When
Harm said he wasn't, he half expected silence to reign again, but
the "voice" continued.  The man's voice said that he would help
Harm beat the mind games that Colonel Hahn would be playing.
The "voice" was an old hand at beating the tricks of their captors,
since he'd been in the prison since 1969.

Suddenly, Harm heard voices outside his cell.  The "voice" warned
him to pretend to be asleep.  Harm decided it sounded like a good
idea and quickly lay down, turning away from the door.  The door
opened.  The guard stepped in, and Harm's world went black.

______________________________________________________
Mac sat on the edge of her bed.  She couldn't sleep.  She couldn't
pace because Krennick would probably hear her and come to
investigate.  That was the last thing she needed right now.  So she
sat and relived the night's events.

She and Krennick had gone to meet Lt. Chang.  He had informed
them that Harm was being held at a local army garrison but would
soon be moved to Beijing.  Supposedly a source would contact
them and arrange a meeting.  Krennick had assured Chang that the
Navy took care of its own and any demands would be met.

That had been hours ago and still no word from the "source".  Mac
was going crazy wondering what they were doing to Harm.  Were
they torturing him?  Was he all right?  Did he miss her?  The last
question caused her to laugh slightly.  'Why would he miss you,
Sarah.  You're just his partner, his pal.  He doesn't feel the same
way about you as you do about him.  Face it, Mac, you're in love
with a man who can't see you for dust.'

Mac realized that tormenting herself wasn't going to help, so she
laid down and tried to sleep.  The much needed rest finally arrived,
but it was filled with images of Harm in pain.

______________________________________________________
Harm slowly became aware of his surroundings.  He was in a
hospital bed, and Captain Lishi was in the room with the Colonel.
They told him he had been in a coma for twenty-seven days, due to
an overdose.  China had successfully reclaimed the islands, but
unfortunately they couldn't release him.  It would prove too
embarrassing for the Chinese government.

"You're both so obvious."  Harm was  alert enough to know a lie
when he heard one.

The Colonel  turned back to Harm on his way out of the room.
"You were not the first nor will you be the last."  Several minutes
later, Harm was given his clothes and then returned to his cell.

"Where've you been.  I missed you."  The "voice"  echoed up
through the floor.

Harm told him that he had been in a coma for a month.  The words
from beneath him told him that it was a trick.  Harm didn't know
what to belief anymore.  Was the coma a trick or was it the voice
or was it both?

"I can't think."  Harm was talking to himself, but the "voice"
answered.

"It's the drugs.  You have to get them out of your system."

Harm wiped his hand over his eyes in an effort to clear them and
his mind.  When he brought his hand down, he noticed the cut
from the shard of glass.  It was still fresh.

The "voice" heard Harm's laugh and wanted to know what was
going on.  When Harm told him about the cut, the words that
floated back suggested that it was about time the two of them got
to know each other.

As Harm did push-ups to work the remainder of the drugs out of
his system, he introduced himself.  "I'm Harmon Rabb, Jr.,
Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy."

The laughter that drifted up to him chilled his soul.  "Tell Colonel
Hahn his trick won't work."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm Harmon Rabb, United States Navy."

Finally, the informant had contacted them.  It was none other than
Lt. Chang.  The two officers had met him at a restaurant.  He had
told them that the "source" was someone serving inside the
garrison.  They would be able to get Harm out in exchange for
asylum in the U.S.  Chang, himself, wanted instant sanctuary in the
event that anything went wrong.  When he had left the table, a note
was found on the back of the bill; Freedom Bell 3 p.m.

Mac knew they were closer, but they still had to convince
Secretary Bair to grant asylum to whoever was going to help them.
She swore if that man did one thing to jeopardize Harm's return,
he'd live to regret the day he'd ever laid eyes on Sarah MacKenzie.

Harm sat in stunned silence of what seemed like an eternity.
Suddenly, he rose to his feet and began pacing the confines of the
cell.  His JAG instincts kicked in as he fired questions at the man
in the cell below.

"When were you shot down?"

"December 24, 1969."

"What carrier was your squadron attached to?"

"Ticonderoga."

"Who was your wingman?"

"Tom Boone."

All the right answers, but the information was easily assessable for
any government.  When Harm voiced his suspicions, he was met
with a logical solution.

"Ask me something they wouldn't know."

"Where did my father take me the day before he sailed for
Vietnam?"

The answer was perfect.  His father had taken him to a park in San
Diego.  There was a roller coaster there and Harm, Sr., had wanted
to show it to his son before they tore it down.  His dad had given
him a card with HR and a little squared symbol .  Only his father
would know about that.  His father.

With tears in his eyes, Harm told his dad, "I never knew what it
meant until years later."

______________________________________________________
Krennick and Mac had been waiting at the Freedom Bell for the
last twenty minutes.  Nothing had happened so far, and Mac's
nerves were stretched to the breaking point.  Krennick had been
trying, unsuccessfully, to find out about her and Harm's
relationship.

Mac decided that the woman must have figured the direct
approach would work, because the next words out of her mouth
were just that.  "Are you and Harm sleeping together?"

"Commander Krennick, my personal relationships are none of your
business."

"Do you want to know if Harm and I have slept together?"

"No."

"We haven't.."

"I just said that, Commander."  At Krennick's confused look, Mac
continued, "I know you and Harm haven't slept together.  He's not
interested in you, Commander. Why can't you just leave him
alone?"

Krennick was silent for several minutes.  "I do care about Harm
you know.  I'm just not as good at showing it as you are.  I know I
don't have a chance with him.  It's always been you, but hey, a girl
can hope."

Any response Mac might have made was cut short when she
realized that a woman had just left her baby carriage a few feet
away from them.  Krennick tore the carriage apart and found
Harm's wallet and military ID  They headed back to the consulate,
determined to win Bair's support.

Mac had to give Krennick credit.  She was a by the book, pain- in-
the-butt, Harm- groping annoyance, but boy could she make
Secretary Bair squirm.  The man had been none too cooperative
when they had informed him of the conditions for Harm's release.
He said he couldn't just guarantee asylum in twenty-four hours
time.

Krennick had promptly informed him that if he didn't do just that,
his wife would find out about the affair the two of them had been
having.  She even added her rendition of the letter she would write.

"Dear Mrs. Bair.  I love your husband and he loves me."  That had
been enough to take at least five years off the worthless man's life
and cause him to consent to the demands.

Now all they had to do was wait.  God, Mac hated to wait.

______________________________________________________
Harm didn't know what to think anymore.  Lishi had told him last
night that she could get the three of them out of the prison.  She
wanted asylum in the U.S. in exchange for Harm's release.  They
would take his father with them.  He and his father had argued
about her plan half the night.  His father didn't trust her.  Harm
didn't either, but what choice did they have?

Unbeknownst to Harm, Captain Lishi and the Colonel were
watching him on closed circuit television.  They were watching
him argue with himself.  Only one voice could be heard in the cell.

"It's just as you said it would be.  He has created his father in his
mind."  The Colonel looked at Lishi with amazement.

"I planted the seed of the idea.  The drugs took over from there."

Several hours later, a guard entered his cell.  Harm managed to
knock him out, and injected him with the syringe that Lishi had
given him.  He made his way cautiously to the lower level.  When
he got his father's cell open, he found an empty room.  His
flashlight illuminated something carved on the wall.  It was the HR
squared symbol.

Lishi found him and urged him to follow her.

"Where's my father?"

"He's on his way to the border.  Come, we must hurry."

One of the guards heard their voices and appeared on the stairs.
The Captain quickly shot him, silencing the shot with a pillow, and
then hurried Harm out of the prison.  Once in the yard, they got
into a van and headed toward the border.

______________________________________________________
Mac was pacing again.  Krennick was as still as a statue, and Mac
almost envied her.  All she wanted was to see Harm.  Know he was
all right.  Lights!  A van was pulling up on the other side of the
border.  The driver got out, but no one else.  The wait continued.

______________________________________________________
As they neared the border, Harm could see a van in front of them.
It was parked, waiting to cross.

"Is my father in that van?"

"You are free to see."

Harm should have bolted out of the van, but instead he opened the
door slowly and exited the vehicle.  He walked toward the van
with feelings of dread, excitement, hope and despair all warring
for supremacy.  The door slid open.  Nothing. No one.

Harm's control snapped.  He pulled the gun Lishi had given him
out of his pocket and aimed it at her.  The guards surrounding the
area stepped forward, but she halted their progress.

"Where is he?"

"In your mind, Commander.  He never existed."

"I talked to him!"

"It was the drugs.  Once the idea was planted, your mind took over
from there."

______________________________________________________
Mac watched in horror as Harm pulled a gun on the woman in
uniform.  She had watched him walk toward the van, and his face
had held such....hope.  When the door of the van had slid open,
Mac had seen his shoulders fall.  She knew he was in pain and
somehow that pain was worse than any he had experienced so far.
What was in the van?

Mac didn't know, but she prayed Harm wouldn't shoot the woman
over it.  He was still on the wrong side of the border.  'Don't do it,
Harm! Please stop!'  Her mind uttered the thoughts while her ears
took in the sounds of gunfire.

______________________________________________________
Harm shot at Lishi, but as she had taunted him with, the bullets
were blanks.  Just then, the Colonel arrived.  He had his men
surround Captain Lishi and he told her she was under arrest.

"I was just following our plan, Colonel."

"What plan?  You were attempting to escape with this prisoner."

Her protests fell on deaf ears as the Colonel grabbed Harm's arm
and propelled him toward the border crossing.

"Keep moving.  Your people are waiting on the other side,"  the
Colonel hissed the words as they practically ran to the border.

The minute Mac saw Harm move toward the crossing, she was on
her way to meet him.  Krennick followed close behind, and when
both of them saw Lishi draw her weapon and aim it at Harm, they
opened fire.  Lishi fell but not before wounding the man who Harm
was with.

Harm felt the Colonel sag against him, and they barely made it
over the border.  He heard more gunfire, but it was coming from
the Hong Kong side of the border.  He looked up and saw Mac and
Krennick firing at someone behind him.  He looked back to see
Lishi lying on the pavement.

The next thing Harm was aware of was a very feminine yet strong
arm around his waist.  He looked over to find big, chocolate eyes
staring back at him.

"Hey, Sailor, need a lift?"  Mac gave him one of her sunbeam
smiles, and for a moment his pain was forgotten.

"I think I can stand on my own, but I could use the support."  His
return smile was only half there, and Mac somehow knew that he
wasn't referring to the support of her arm around him.

"Always, Flyboy, always."  Mac helped him to his feet, and Harm
in turn assisted the Colonel with Krennick supporting the man
from the other side.

"I would have never guessed that Colonel Hahn would turn out to
be an informant,"  Harm stated as they made their way toward the
car.

"Hahn?  I'm Colonel Chee.  I replaced Hahn ten years ago. Who
told you about Hahn?"  The older man never got a reply because
when Harm stopped walking, Krennick continued on to the car.

Mac stopped when Harm did.  She could see the look of confusion
and so much more on his handsome face.

"Harm?  Who told you about Colonel Hahn?"

He looked down with tears in his eyes.  "My father."


Later that night
The American Consulate

Mac slipped quietly into Harm's room and sat down in a chair
beside his bed.  He was sleeping, but it was a restless sleep.  Harm
tossed and turned, mumbling incoherent words and phrases.  The
only word Mac could understand was "Dad".  That one word broke
her heart.

Harm had told her about talking to his father in the prison.  Mac
didn't know whether she believed it or not, but her Sailor did and
she would help him find the truth.

Harm suddenly sat up in bed and called out for his father.

"Harm.  It's okay.  You're safe."  Mac came to sit on the edge of the
bed.  She took his hand and gently stroked the back of it as she
waited for Harm's breathing to return to normal.

'I'm alright.  I'm safe.  I'm with Mac.'  Harm repeated the litany
until each breath was slower than the last.  Finally, he looked over
at Mac and gave her a weak smile.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up."

"You didn't. I was watching you sleep."  When Mac realized what
she had said, she looked away.  "I just wanted to make sure you
were okay."

Harm gently turned her face toward him.  "Thanks, Marine.  I'm
glad you're here."

"What's wrong?"  Mac had seen his face fall and wondered at the
reason.

"I was just thinking about my dad.  Do you think I'll ever find
him?"

He looked so lost and alone, as though he didn't have a friend in
the world.  But he did and that friend wasn't going to let him down.

"No, Harm, I don't think you'll find your dad."  When Harm started
to protest, Mac leaned over and gently kissed him, silencing him.
"We'll find him, Harm.  You and me.  Together."

"Yes, Ma'am."  Harm's smile lit the room just before their lips met
again.

The End.

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