1400 EST
JAG Headquarters
VA

"Colonel Smith, you have been found guilty of treason. You will spend your life in prison."

Mac picked up some papers and slipped them in her briefcase.

"I'll get you for this, Colonel." Smith yelled out as the Staff Sergeant took him away. "I'll make pay."

Harm picked up his briefcase and carried it over to Mac. "Are you okay?"

"It was a threat, Harm, and a loose one at that. He's going to Leavenworth. He can't do anything to me."

Mac carried her briefcase out the door and to her office. Harm followed behind her and walked in with her. He closed the door behind him.

"Mac, it was still a threat. Are you going to be okay tonight?"

"I'll be fine, Harm. Besides, I have Jingo with me."

"Oh, yeah, what a guard dog."

"I beg your pardon. Jingo is a very good guard dog."

"He was retired from the DEA because of his age. He couldn't pick out marijuana from oregano, Mac."

"He's got a great nose." She defended her dog. "In fact, this morning he smelled my bacon and eggs-and then he ate them."

Harm laughed. "Okay. If you need me you have my number."

Mac pulled in her chair. "It's speed dial one."

Harm stopped and turned around. "You have me on speed dial one."

"Of course not. Ambulance is number one, work is number two and you're down somewhere on four or five."

"Oh." Harm walked out and ran into Bud on his way to his office. "Hey, Bud."

Bud turned around. "Yes, sir."

"Just out of curiosity." He leaned against his doorjamb. "Where am I on your speed dial?"

"Number five, sir."

"Number five. Who's one through three."

"Harriet's parents are first, Admiral Chegwidden is second, JAG's third, Colonel Mackenzie is fourth and you're fifth, sir."

"Why is Mac fourth and not me?"

Bud shrugged his shoulders. "I guess because 'M' comes before 'R', sir."

"That makes sense, Carry on, Bud."

"Yes, sir." Bud turned around and continued walking.

1800 EST
JAG Headquarters
VA

Harm stopped by Mac's office on his way out. She was just finishing something up."

Harm knocked. "Come on. I'll walk you out."

"Harm, you don't have to do that." Mac walked out and closed her door.

"I don't mind. We're going to the same parking lot anyway." He hit the button the elevator.

"You really have me on speed dial four?"

Mac cracked a smile. "I'm not talking about this to you anymore, Harm."

"Okay." He slipped on his jacket as they entered the elevator.

It was gorgeous October night. Harm waited for her to get in the Corvette and then he closed her door. "Call me if you need anything tonight."

Mac pulled her seat belt over and hooked it. "I'm a Marine, Harm." She started the engine. "I can take care of myself, but thanks. Goodnight."

"Night."

2300 (EST)
Harm's Apartment
Washington

Harm rolled over when the phone rang. He had been asleep for three hours and the loud ring had woken him up. He grabbed the portable and held it to his ear.

"Hello," He said, drowsily.

"Harm, it's me. I need your help." Then the phone cut off.

Harm whipped off his sheets. "Mac? Mac?" He turned off the phone, turned it back on and dialed Mac's number.

There was a busy signal.

Harm shoved a pair of pants on and a shirt, grabbed his keys and his gun and ran out of the apartment

2330 (EST)
Mac's Apartment
Washington

"Mac?" Harm said her name as he approached her door. The door was slightly open. He took out his gun, held it close to his right ear and pushed the door open.

The house was immaculate. There was no sign of a struggle or any signs of Mac being wounded.

"Mac?" He walked into the bedroom. The lampshade on her light was turned cockeyed, her alarm clock was face down on the floor and her bed sheets were rumpled. He checked the bathroom. There was no one in there.

He stuffed his gun in the back of his pants and walked back into the living room. Just as he sat down on the couch, his cell phone rang. He picked it up.

"Mac?"

"Hello, Commander." A computerized voice came over the line.

"Who is this?"

"Never mind that. We got your number from the Colonel."

"Where is she? What have you done to her?"

There was a pause. "She's fine. Don't talk to the police or she won't stay that way."

"What do you want?"

"In due time, Commander. Act like nothing has happened and everything will be fine. We'll contact you within the next day with more details. Until then have a nice night." A dial tone.

Harm slipped the phone back in his pants pocket and looked around for Jingo. He was nowhere to be found so he started from the kitchen all the way to the bedroom in search of any clue to Mac's whereabouts.

0845 (EST)
JAG Headquarters
VA

"Commander, you look horrible. What's wrong?"

Mac's been kidnapped is all. "Nothing, sir. You requested me, sir. What do you need?"

"Colonel Mackenzie has taken a few days vacation."

"A few days vacation?!" Harm called out.

"Yes, Commander. She called the Gunny this morning and requested it. She has a few days on the books, but this does range a problem. I need you to work her caseload until she comes back."

"Sir, Mac isn't on vacation. She's been kidnapped."

The Admiral started laughing. "No, Commander. She called me this morning. I don't think her kidnappers would have let her call me this morning if she indeed had been kidnapped and, besides, if she had I would have the National Guard, Marines and Navy out looking for her. The Gunny has a list of the Colonel's cases."

"I can't, sir."

The Admiral wrinkled his forehead. "Why not, Commander?"

"Because I need to take a few days off. I have two weeks on the books, sir." He backed out. "I'll finish today out. Thank you, sir."

"Commander?"

Harm ignored him and walked out into the bullpen.

"Gunny, get Leavenworth on the phone for me."

"Yes, sir." The Gunny picked up the phone.

Harriet followed Harm in.

"Is there something wrong, Commander?"

The phone rang. Harm picked it up and showed his finger to Harriet to tell her he needed a minute.

"Hello."

"Hello, Commander." Harm whirled around in his chair so Harriet wouldn't see his face. "Hello."

"Here's a riddle. What's red and fast and owned by Mac? You'll find a list of instructions in the answer to that riddle."

Harm whirled around in his chair and hung up the phone.

"I've got to go, Harriet."

He stood up and walked out of his office.

"Sir, I've got Leavenworth on line one."

"I can't take it right now." The elevator was open. He walked in and rode it all the way down to the ground floor. Then he got into his SUV and drove to Mac's apartment.

0935 (EST)
Mac's Apartment
DC

Mac's Corvette was setting in the apartment building's driveway. The top was down. Mac always left the top down on warm nights. He had her keys from her house, which he used to get into. There was nothing in the car until he checked the glove compartment.

A note was setting vertical when he opened up the glove compartment. He pulled it out and opened it up.

Twenty hours is all you get to find your Marine. Look high, look low, look all around.

Harm wadded up the paper and stuck it in his coat pocket. Then he got out of the car and headed to Langly in his car. There was only one person that could help him now.

1035 (EST)
JAG Headquarters
VA

Harm walked back into his office. "Gunny, get me Leavenworth."

"On line one, Commander. I called them as soon as I saw you come in."

"Thank you, Gunny. Close my door please."

Gunny did as told. Harm picked up the phone and hit line one.

"This is Colonel Smith's attorney, Commander Rabb. I need to talk to Colonel Smith."

"I'm afraid that's not possible, Commander. The Colonel is not allowed phone calls at this time."

"Do I know you?"

There was a pause. "No, Commander."

"All right. Thank you."

Harm hung up.

Bud was walking past his office. Harm called him in.

"What do you need, sir?"

Harm walked over and closed the door. "Bud, I'm going to tell you something and I hope you'll help me with it."

"Of course, sir. What?"

Harm sat down. "Bud, Mac's been kidnapped. She called me last night and said she needed my help. When I went to the apartment, she was gone, but her door was open. A computerized voice called me and told me they had her. The only thing is I don't know why they want her. I think it might be Smith."

Bud was serious for a moment and then he cracked up into a smile. "Sir, Colonel Mackenzie is on vacation. She took a cab to the airport this morning. I talked to her this morning right after she talked to the Gunny. Sir, are you sure you're not having a delayed reaction to the fall you took in the Admiral's office."

"That was months ago, Bud."

"Then a very delayed reaction."

Harm slammed his palms down on the desk. "No, Bud, I'm not." He walked over to the coat rack and grabbed his jacket and cover.

Bud turned around. "Where are you going, sir?"

"To find Mac, Bud."

He put his cover on his head and walked out.

NOON
Harm's Apartment
DC

"No, mom, everybody says she's on vacation. I can't call the police or they might do something-Okay-Hey, Frank." Harm slipped a tomato in his mouth. "No, I don't have any idea where she could be. The frustrating part is that I know Colonel Smith's involved somehow I just don't know how-No, they won't let me talk to him-So, Mom told me you're taking a trip-No, go ahead. I'll figure out something. Give Mom my love-You too, Frank. Bye."

Harm hung up even more puzzled then before. He wandered to the couch and sat down so he could look at her datebook.

Nothing big stuck out at him. He knew she took off for her whole lunch hour all of last week and he had no idea why. He didn't ask. She and Harriet would meet in her office before lunch and then take off and then only Mac would come back. The week before was scrawled in red, "Lunch with Harriet."

He knew she marked the really important dates in red. October 25 was marked in all capitals. HARM'S B-DAY. His birthday was tomorrow. That's the reason his mom and Frank called today. They would be leaving tonight.

Just like Mac. Gone in the night.

He laid the book down and closed his eyes. He would sleep for a few hours and then start the search over again. Someone had to believe Mac was missing. Someone had to know.

0900 (EST)
Harm's Apartment
DC

The trash truck veered loudly and Harm woke with a start.

"What in the world?" He got up off the couch and looked out the window. The trash truck was picking up the apartment's trash.

Harm turned around and grabbed for the clock on his desk. "It was nine o'clock." He had fallen asleep and slept almost nine hours. That only gave him eight hours to find Mac. Eight hours and counting.

He ran to the bedroom to change into some clean clothes. He knew of someone that could help him. Webb. Webb would help him if Harm had to hold a gun to his head.

1130 (EST)
Webb's office
Langly
VA

Harm walked in unannounced. Webb was working on the computer. He stopped when he saw Harm and minimized what he was doing.

"I thought telling you my office felt like the window at Dairy Queen was enough to get you to stop coming over here every time you get a hang nail. What's wrong?"

"Mac's been kidnapped."

Webb stood up. "What?"

"Two nights ago she called me and asked for my help. When I went to her apartment, she was gone, but her door was open. I got a call on my cell phone while I was there. The voice said he had Mac and that he would tell me what he wanted. The next day I found a message in Mac's Corvette. It said-well here let me show you."

Harm dug into his coat pocket but the message was gone. "I swear I had it."

The phone rang. Webb picked it up. "Agent Webb-Yes-I'll figure out a way. Bye." He hung up.

"Now, Harm, you were telling me about this message."

"I don't have it. It must have slipped out of my pocket. It was written in scribbles and it said twenty hours to find your Marine."

Webb looked at his watch. "That doesn't give us long."

"You believe me?"

"It's too impossible not to. Let's have a quick lunch and talk about what steps were going to take next."

Their quick lunch turned out to be an hour and half long as they discussed strategies.

1500 (EST)
JAG Headquarters
VA

Harm walked into JAG. The bullpen was empty all except some minor staffers and the Gunny.

"What's going on, Gunny? Where's Bud and the others?"

"There was a problem in one of the Lieutenant's cases. The Admiral had to go help him and Lieutenant Simms left early after her babysitter called. You've got a letter on your desk, sir. It arrived an hour ago."

An hour ago and he was out. "Hold all my calls, Gunny." Harm raced into his office and slammed the door shut.

The plain manila envelope was lying on his desk. He sat down and tore it open. A note was inside with the phrase, "HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS."

Heart. Mac was his heart. She would be at his apartment. He grabbed the note and ran out of his office.

"Gunny, I'll be at my apartment if anyone needs me."

"Yes, sir."

Gunny picked up the phone and punched in a number. "It's me-He received the note and he just left-He'll never believe this one." Gunny hung up the phone, grabbed his jacket and walked out.

1536 (EST)
Harm's Apartment
DC

The elevator was taking longer than Harm had ever known it to or maybe it was just the fact that what was waiting for him in his apartment was something he had been waiting on for two days. The other half of his heart.

The elevator stopped and he got out. His door was right in front of him. He pulled his keys out and stuck them in the door. The doorknob rattled more than it ever used to. It made a loud noise as he tried to get in. Finally, it clicked open and Harm turned the doorknob. He held his breath as he twisted it. What he would find in there might not be what he wanted to see. Mac was sure to be in there. The note said so, but what condition she was in was another matter.

The door opened and Harm walked through. His eyes were closed.

"Surprise!" The shock hurled Harm back into the door. He opened his eyes and saw his mom, Frank, the Roberts, the Admiral, Webb--and Mac.

"What? What's going on?"

Mac walked up to him and kissed his cheek. "Happy Birthday, Harm."

"Birthday? You mean all this was for my birthday. The call, the apartment door being unlocked, the notes, the voice."

"Yes." A computerized voice said. Harm turned around to see the Gunny talking into a small round device. "The voice was me."

"The phone call to and from Leavenworth."

"You never talked to anyone from Leavenworth," Bud said. "I talked our next door neighbor into making the call so you wouldn't recognize the voice."

"It sounded familiar, but that makes sense because I ran into her the day I dropped AJ off at her apartment for you two."

"Happy Birthday, Commander." Harriet hugged him.

"Thank you, Harriet. This whole thing was planned out just for my birthday."

"It was an unusual way to get you here, but it worked and we had some fun along the way." Mac looked over at Harriet and winked. "Well, let's eat before the pizza gets cold. Don't worry, Harm, I bought a veggie pizza just for you. We need ice. Come on, flyboy." Harm was still standing before Mac with his mouth dropped open, amazed.

"Come on, flyboy." Mac pulled Harm by the arm to the refrigerator.

"I was scared, Mac."

"I know, Harm." She stopped putting ice into a bucket. "I'm sorry. I saw the Michael Douglas movie The Game a couple weeks ago and thought it would be a different kind of birthday party for you. Webb was in on it too. In fact, you were there when I called."

"That's what that call was about."

"Yeah. The last note was put on your desk by the Gunny. I was hoping you understood the significance of it. After all, you and I are the only ones that ever read it."

"You are a part of my heart, Mac. A big part."

Mac laid her hand on his arm. "And you're a big part of mine, Harm. I don't know what I would do without you."

"Same here." He picked up the ice bucket. "And don't worry, Mac. You'll get yours soon."

"Bring it on, flyboy, bring it on."

THE END

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