Special thanks to Sue for the quick beta, again, and for the words of encouragement.
This one is for Bree who deserves all the credit in the world for keeping up with us pesky writers. I cranked this one out quick, but I hope it doesn’t disappoint.
Timeline note: the first scene of this takes place after JAG TV and then returns to present VS time after the events of episode 12.
Enjoy! Feedback is welcome!
~*~*~* *~*~*~
*Months Earlier*
1300 EST
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
"Hopefully I'll talk to you again soon, okay. Bye," Mac said with a smile on her face before hanging up the phone.
"Cute guy you met this morning when you stopped for coffee," Harm teased. "I hardly think your fiancée would approve."
"My fiancée has nothing to worry about, Harm," Mac responded. "That was the woman who wrote the story on me for TIME."
"You told her she's too late to correct her faux paus?" Harm guessed with distain, motioning toward the diamond ring that now resided on her left hand.
"Not exactly...and not another word about my engagement, please," Mac scolded.
"Sorry," he said, backing off the subject. "So really, what's up?"
"Apparently she came up with some background info regarding *our* first case..."
"Uncle Matt?" Harm guessed.
Mac nodded in affirmative response. "TIME thinks they can appeal to the sympathy of the masses-a great human interest story."
"What does that mean for Colonel O'Hara?"
"Well, she mentioned that the story would bring attention to problems within the government and its' shying away from traditional American values...the possibility of an appeal or presidential pardon also came up."
"That would be amazing, Mac," Harm smiled a genuine smile. He'd always felt guilty for the Colonel's imprisonment. If only he could have done a little more...
"Yeah," Mac said, only slightly enthused, "But I'm trying not to get my hopes up."
"Think positive, Mac," Harm encouraged, squeezing her hand. "Things have a funny way of working themselves out." He sighed almost as his fingers grazed her engagement ring. "I'll keep my fingers crossed."
~*~*~* *~*~*~
*Present Time*
1200 EST
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
"Sir, Ma'am," Tiner said, interrupting a playful moment between the two senior officers. "The admiral would like to see you both, along with Lt. Roberts, ASAP."
"Any clue about what?" Harm questioned.
"No ma'am," Tiner replied. "But he got a call from Undersecretary of State Webb earlier. I could hear the Admiral cursing clear through the closed door of his office."
"Just great," Mac groaned, "The admiral in a bad mood makes boot camp seem like a picnic."
"Let's just get this over with," Harm said as Bud approached. The three headed for the admiral's office, Harm quietly humming a funeral march so only Mac could hear.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
"I just got off the phone with Webb," the Admiral explained as his officers stood before him.
Harm couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Cut the crap Rabb, this is serious."
"How serious, sir?"
"A military convoy was hijacked this morning," the admiral explained. "Just outside of San Diego. Its cargo was being transported to a small airport on the California/Arizona border where it was being loaded on a heavily secured plane headed for DC."
"What kind of cargo?" Harm asked.
"The Declaration of Independence," the Admiral exclaimed solemnly.
"Hot damn," Bud swore under his breath.
All Mac could do was stare.
"I'm, not going to lie to you, Mac, Webb thinks Colonel O'Hara is responsible."
"Oh God, Uncle Matt," she gasped. "I don't believe it, sir. He wouldn't do this again. He just got out of Leavenworth. We had plans..."
"Relax, Colonel," AJ ordered. "I'm not so sure I believe it myself."
"So what are we going to do sir?" Harm inquired.
"Find O'Hara and prove he's innocent. After the appeal, well, let's just say the president's on the warpath."
"Sir?" Mac questioned, "May I request permission to be put in charge of this case?"
"It should be against my better judgment Colonel, but considering I know you'll be involved even if I forbid you from flying out there, permission granted. Take Commander Rabb with you," he ordered.
"Thank you, sir."
"Find your uncle, and if he has the Declaration you'd better hope to God he's got a damn good reason."
"Aye, sir."
"Lt. Roberts," AJ continued. "I want you to stay with me and help me ward off Mr. Webb. I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to track Mac, thinking it'll lead straight to the Declaration again. You can help me prove to Webb who's *really* responsible. I want the records of every person involved the first time the document was stolen, the Defenders, the investigators, the reporters. I mean everyone."
"Yes, sir," Bud said.
"And any screw-ups, cover-ups, or any other nonsense from any of you, and you'll be the ones in Leavenworth, with no chance of appeal!"
"Sir, yes, sir," the three said in unison, coming to a full salute before exiting the office.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
"Are you okay, Mac?" Harm asked, as they shuffled around her office, making a quick sort of things before they headed off to Arizona.
"I'm fine, Harm," she said, shrugging off his concern.
"I know how much Uncle Matt means to you," Harm told her, touching her arm lightly. "It's okay if you're upset."
"Of course I'm upset Harm. He's my uncle. We were supposed to spend our first time in what seems like forever tracking the ichnites this weekend. I know how special that was going to be for him. He wouldn't steal the Declaration. Not now, not again," she said.
Harm could tell she wasn't as sure of herself as she was trying to be.
"At least I don't think so," she sighed.
"Do you think maybe the government's setting him up again?" Harm asked.
"Someone has to be. I mean, there's got to be some sort of explanation."
"There is Mac and we'll find it. I promise."
"Thanks, Harm," Mac said giving him a slightly longer than necessary embrace considering they were still at the office.
"Let's go."
~*~*~* *~*~*~
1245 EST
Bud stood silently in the Admiral's office watching a screaming match unfold before him.
"Stand down, Mr. Webb," the Admiral yelled, attempting to get the undersecretary out of his face.
"I will not, AJ. Not until you tell me where Rabb and Mackenzie are."
"I told you, on a case."
"A case that involved a missing government document! One in which they are both tied to the culprit."
"Colonel O'Hara doesn't have the Declaration unless you set him up again, Webb."
"I never did any such thing. Not then and definitely not now!"
"Then you're just blowing steam at me because you're screwed. I can't imagine what the CIA does to people who have the Declaration stolen out from under their nose, twice!"
"I'm not..." Webb started, his defense stopped by a shrill beep coming from the TV in the Admiral's office, which had had ZNN running as background noise. Both men's jaws fell open wide as the Defender's logo popped up on the screen, followed by a close-up of Matt O'Hara's face.
"Son of a bitch," AJ swore.
Webb was both glad he was right, and pissed off that'd he's let this happen yet again.
All three men listened to every word out of O'Hara's mouth, but none knew what to make out of them. This time, his desire was clear. There was no talk of government corruption or the rights of the people. There was just a clear demand for one billion dollars from the government in exchange for the Declaration.
"One billion dollars!" Webb exclaimed in outrage.
"I thought it was a half," AJ recalled.
"Inflation," was all Bud could say before the two others were out of the office.
"Tiner," AJ yelled, "Call the FBI. Get the two of us transport out to the hijack site ASAP."
"Sir?" Bud called out from behind them.
"Make that three," AJ growled.
"Sir, yes, sir." Tiner said, hastily reaching for the phone.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
1645 EST
Hijack Site
Outside of San Diego
"They still want a billion?" Webb asked, getting an update on the status of the Declaration.
"Sure do," the FBI agent in charge replied, "So now we just need to figure out how to trick O'Hara into thinking he'll get the money so we can get the Declaration back."
"Why don't we just find him, storm the place, and take it by force, it can't be that hard...Where the hell is Sarah Mackenzie!"
No one had seen either her or Harm.
"What the hell do you mean no JAG officers have been here yet today?" Webb screamed, searching the site for any sign of Harm and Mac. "How much do you want to bet they're with O'Hara. Hell, they're probably behind this. Mac would do damn near anything for her uncle and Harm would do anything for her."
"Would you shut up Webb?" AJ ordered. "Rabb and Mackenzie are the most loyal officers I know, they wouldn't..."
"I know they are loyal, but in times like this, I just question where their true loyalties lie," Webb said before storming off.
"I wouldn't worry about him, sir," Bud consoled. "He's just got a stick up is butt because his job is on the line."
"He's always had a stick up his butt, son," AJ chuckled. "There's just a dog playing fetch now, and he knows he's gonna get bit!"
1700 EST
Gas Station
Somewhere between Yuma
and Red Rock Mesa, Arizona
"Remember this old place, Mac," Harm said, waking his sleeping partner as he pulling into the lone gas station along the nearly abandoned strip of desert.
"Sure do," she smiled, stretching.
"I figured we'd stop for gas and a pee break. Who knows what we'll find when we get out to the Mesa.
"Good idea," Mac said as the two exited the rental car. Mac headed straight for the bathroom as Harm approached the gas attendant.
"What do ya say I fill'er up?" the man asked, motioning toward the sign that still read: "Next Gas 113 miles."
"Still gets you business from everyone with less then half a tank, huh?" Harm asked, recognizing the man from their last stops at the gas station.
"Sure does!" he smiled, his teeth as dirty as the rest of his body. "Say, aren't you the man who gave me that Navy voucher for my piece of junk truck."
"That'd be me," Harm replied. "You don't happen to still have that truck, do you?"
"I damn well do," he grinned. "Still looks rough but runs like a jewel."
"Mind if I borrow it again?" Harm smiled. "For old times sake?"
"Go right ahead. It's on me. Call it thanks for your last bit of help. Because of that money, my girlfriend married me. Now she's having our third kid."
"Oh wow," Harm said, producing another Navy voucher as two scrawny, dirty kids came out of the garage to stare at him. "Take this anyway. It'll help the kids."
"Thanks man," the guy said, taking the voucher.
"No, thank you, Billie," Harm said, reading the man's name off of the left breast pocket of his shirt. "Hey Mac," he called as she came out of the rest room, "grab your stuff out of the trunk."
"What's going on Harm?" Mac asked as Billie drove the truck out of the garage. "Afraid Avis bugged the rental?"
"Not quiet," he smiled, opening the back hatch, "but this still had the bed in back."
Mac couldn't help but laugh as she remembered her reaction to his initial comment on their first case.
"Fits the cover story, my ass," she said, teasing him.
"Hey, I may be stupid but I'm not blind. Remember that dress?"
"Let's go, sailor," Mac smiled. "Now is *not* the time."
~*~*~* *~*~*~
1830EST
Red Rock Mesa, Arizona
"It's still light out, should we attempt to climb?" Harm asked, his hand resting on the old "Eats, UFOs, Live Rattlesnakes" sign.
"It's a long way up, but it's our best option. I know the route, and unless something serious is up, I doubt Uncle Matt has a huey."
"True, true," Harm smiled. "It's not like you can pick one up at a surplus store."
Mac smiled. "Let's go."
The two began their ascent, discussing a wide variety of things to pass the time. They'd both come to the conclusion that they'd reach the top, only to find Uncle Matt, alone and without the Declaration of Independence, relaxing and spending his time tracking the dinosaur footprints. They revisited many memories of past cases, especially their first. They'd come just about full circle since then.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
Several hours later
"Oh my God, Harm, it's Uncle Matt," Mac gasped as they peered into the cave at the top of the mesa.
"And the Declaration," Harm finished as they watched Colonel O'Hara standing, his back towards them, facing the document.
"He's guilty," Mac said, tears streaming down her face. "I won't let him go to jail again. He's the only family I've got."
"Mac," Harm soothed. "Listen to me. It's going to be okay."
"No Harm, listen. I'm sticking by my uncle no matter what. I wanted to believe he wouldn't do this again, but he did, so he must have his reasons, and I won't turn my back on him."
"Even if it means risking your career?"
"Yes, Harm," Mac swore. "That's why I want you to go back."
"You want me to leave you? I won't do it," Harm told her, wrapping her in his embrace.
"You have to," she whispered, but his protesting response was interrupted by another voice.
"Well isn't this cute," a man dressed in Marine Recon gear said, pointing a gun at Harm and Mac. "If it isn't sweet innocent Sarah and her 'prisoner'. She still holding you captive son," he asked, nudging them apart.
"I hope she never lets me go," he smiled, looking straight at Mac.
Mac paused momentarily, touched by Harm's statement, but also was aware of the two to one advantage she and Harm had over the Marine. Signaling to him, they both prepared to attack.
"Sarah, NO!" Uncle Matt screamed as another man approached her from behind, grabbing her to prevent the attack.
"Shut up old man," he screamed holding a knife to Mac's throat. "Anyone moves and the pretty girl gets hurt."
"Who are you?" Mac spat.
"You don't recognize me? You damn near killed me and sent me to Leavenworth," he screamed back.
"Let go of her," Harm yelled, only to be met by a swift kick to the stomach. He doubled over in pain and fell to the floor.
Mac winced at the sight of seeing him hurt.
"Corporal Garrett," she gasped, recognition setting in as she looked at the man who'd hurt Harm. He was one of the men from her Uncle's original Defenders team, the one she'd bashed in the head with the butt of a riffle on the helo, the greedy bastard who'd survived and been sent to prison along with her uncle.
"Let me guess, this has nothing to do with the will of the people," Mac said.
"And to think that's all I thought we cared about," O'Hara said, stepping forward to reveal that both his hands and feet were tied. "Let her go, Garrett," he said, "And I'll make sure you get the billion."
"And jail time," Garrett said. "Fat chance I'm letting her go. I've got the three of you and the Declaration of Independence. If that isn't worth a billion dollars to the US government then I don't know what is."
"Judd, Dunn, get Sarah, Colonel O'Hara, and the Declaration and lets get out of here," Garrett ordered his other men, both devious and greedy friends he'd met while spending time in Leavenworth. They'd helped him come up with the plan to steal the Declaration and kidnap O'Hara, using him as a scapegoat.
"Leave him behind," he continued, motioning towards Harm's still motionless figure. "We've got to get out of here before the JAG Corp starts missing their top lawyers."
As the men began to move, the sound of helicopters could be heard in the distance, getting steadily louder and closer.
"Too late for that," Mac grinned, as the helicopters began circling the mesa.
Held at knifepoint, she was then forced into the waiting Marine recon huey, along with her uncle, who was shoved into the cockpit. A gun pointed to his head, O' Hara prepared for takeoff as the helicopters closed in on them. Once the Declaration was secured, the huey began to lift off the ground.
Before it could take off, Harm, who had really been faking injury, lunged for the plane. Taking advantage of the surprise, Mac lurched back, knocking the knife out of her captor's hand, stunning him with her elbow and fists. Harm pulled one man to the ground in a struggle as Colonel O'Hara set the huey back down, while Mac struggled with the man who'd been holding a gun to his head.
As soon as the two helicopters landed, a team of FBI agents, along with Webb, Bud, and Admiral descended on the huey. Webb ran straight for the case holding the Declaration even before the three "Defenders" were taken into full custody. "Oh thank God," he sighed opening the case.
"And it didn't even fall a thousand feet this time," Bud teased. "Not funny, Lt." Webb said. "Rabb, Mackenzie," he screamed, "You're damn lucky this came back in one piece."
"Don't you mean you're damn lucky it came back in one piece, Webb," AJ said, slapping him on the back. "They're just damn lucky I had a feeling something was up here, and that I kept you at the hijack sight long enough so you didn't destroy Matt O'Hara again."
"That was never my intention," Webb said in attempt to defend himself.
"Sure..."
"Would you guys shut up?" Matt O'Hara interrupted. "If you don't mind, I'm a free man now, and my niece and I have a lot of lost time to catch up on."
"We sure do, Uncle Matt," Mac smiled, hugging her Uncle for the first time in years.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
One Week Later
White House Rose Garden
"I wasn't expecting that," Mac grinned, surprised by the fact that the President had actually commended them for their efforts of the recovery of the Declaration of Independence.
"I was hoping you'd be surprised. And I'm glad you convinced Uncle Matt to come home with you too. He deserved to be here."
"Isn't it amazing, Harm?"
"What?" he asked.
"Look around," she smiled.
"We're right back where we started," he observed.
"Déjà vu?" she asked, reaching for his hand.
"Only this time, I'm not thinking of Diane," he confessed, looking around to make sure they were alone before giving her a small kiss on the lips.
The two continued to walk in the secluded section of the Garden, hand in hand.
As they walked, they were startled by the sound of someone clearing their throat behind them.
"This isn't what it looks like sir," Harm said sheepishly, turning to face Admiral Cheggwidden, Lt. Roberts, and Colonel O'Hara. He was still holding tightly onto Mac's hand.
"Good, because it looks like my two top officers have gotten to know each other a little too well," he said, shaking his head.
Matt O'Hara couldn't help but smile at the sight of his niece and the man who been willing to risk everything to save him, twice. "He's good for her, you know," Matt told AJ as the two walked away.
"I know, and that's what I'm afraid of," AJ said, worried no Admiral's privilege in the world could keep them together on the job if the SecNav became aware of what he was sure was a developing 'situation'.
As Harm and Mac continued their walk, Bud turned to them and whispered, "Well Harm, it's a good thing the SecNav already hates you!"
~*~*~* *~*~*~
End