Safe Harbour - Part 2

Friday, 18 October 2002
2355 EDT
Café La Ruche
Washington, DC

The foursome entered the exclusive French café together.  It had been years since AJ came here, and Mac had never had the luxury.  It became evident very soon, however, that Webb was a frequent guest.

"Nous sommes quatre ce soir, Emile," Webb told the Maitre D in flawless French. ("There are four of us tonight, Emile.")

"Très bien Monsieur Webb. Juste un instant et je change votre table." The Maitre D returned, saying, "Si vous voulez bien me suivre?" ("Very good, Mr. Webb. Just one moment and I'll switch your table. ... If you will follow me?")

As they walked through the elegant cafe, AJ recognized several of the patrons. 'Oh God... maybe Mac was right. I probably should have just taken her straight home. This isn't going to be easy to explain.'

As they reached their table, Webb pulled out a chair and smiling said, "Mac?" Mac glanced quickly at the Admiral, but she accepted the chair Webb held for her. He leaned over and whispered as she sat, "Too many people here who know AJ... don't want to give their tongues any tales, Mac."

AJ hid his surprise well at Webb's move, and he pulled out the chair opposite Mac, saying, "Porter?" The women realized quickly that they'd just effectively been swapped.

The waiter immediately brought a carafe of water with lemon slices. "Que puis-je vous servir?" ("And what may I bring for you to enjoy?")

Webb answered, "On prendra de la Crème Brulée avec Les Prunes a la vanille de Poached et Feijoa Sorbet tout autour, Jean-Claude. Et une bouteille de Cordier Laufaurie-Peyraguey Sauternes... quatre-vingt-dix quatre. Oh, et une boisson non alcoolisée appropiée à ce dessert... pour mon invité." ("We'll have Crème Brulee with Vanilla Poached Plums and Feijoa Sorbet, all around, Jean-Claude. And a bottle of Cordier Lafaurie-Peyraguey Sauternes... '94. Oh, and a glass of something non-alcoholic that will complement the dessert... for my guest.")

"Excellent choix, Monsieur Webb," the waiter intoned, glancing at Mac. ("Most excellent choice, Mr. Webb.")

"Il prend si bien soin de moi," Mac smiled, reaching out and laying her hand on top of Webb's. ("He takes such good care of me.")

AJ raised his eyebrow in question. 'What the hell are they saying?' he wondered.

Porter turned to AJ, "So, tell me, AJ... you said your girlfriend wasn't able to come this evening. Who are seeing now? Do I know her?"

"I doubt it, Porter. Actually, Mac introduced us a few months ago. Her name is Meredith Cavanaugh. She's a literary professor... teaches Shakespeare," AJ replied.

"Teaches it! Oh, then she'll be sorry she missed tonight's performance," Porter offered.

"Actually, she didn't want to come tonight," AJ said sheepishly. "She gets enough of him during the week, I guess."

"Can one ever get too much of Shakespeare?" sighed Porter.

AJ shook his head. "Not to my way of thinking."

Porter laughed and laid her hand on AJ's. "Nor to mine, AJ. Nor to mine."

Webb looked at his mother talking so freely with AJ... then laying her hand on his. And now AJ was turning his hand and holding his mother's hand! 'Good God! Surely he's not going to make a play for my mother! Right in front of me? I'll kill him!'

Mac realized what was going through Webb's mind as she watched the play of emotions on his face. Just as she was going to suggest that they dance to get Webb away from the table, AJ asked Porter, "Would you like to dance, Porter?"

Porter's face lit into a brilliant smile. "I'd love to, AJ."

Mac sensed that Web was about to come out of his seat, so she quickly put her hand on his thigh and rubbed it up and down... immediately bringing his attention back to her. "Mac?"

"You looked like you were going to pounce on him there for a second, Clay. I was just trying to keep you from it," Mac offered by way of apology, quickly removing her hand.

"Oh, please... don't feel you have to stop," Webb grinned wolfishly.

Mac blushed. "I didn't mean it that way, Clay..."

"I know," he let her off the hook. "So, you and Rabb are finally getting together, hmm?"

"I doubt it," she said. "Something always comes between us. I don't think we were meant to be together."

Webb whispered, "But you wish you were."

Mac looked into his eyes. "I don't really know anymore, Clay. I honestly don't know anymore."

"He's not good enough for you, Mac." She turned hurt eyes to him, but he continued. "Mac, you know I like Harm... he's my friend. My good friend. But he's just not good enough for you. You deserve better."

Mac almost snorted. "Yeah, like who?" Webb glanced out to the dance floor and nodded. "Don't go there, Clay. That's not a possibility," she hissed.

"I know that, Mac," he whispered. "And I would never say a word to anyone else about it. But he's the one who would be perfect for you." Then he said so softly, she almost didn't hear him, "Damn well wish it could be me."

The waiter served their dessert just as AJ and Porter returned to the table. "Webb, this was an excellent choice," complimented AJ, as he took his third bite. "I wasn't quite sure what I was getting after you ordered in French, but I must say, I'm impressed."

Porter beamed in pride, "Clayton is always an excellent judge of food and wine... and people."

AJ raised his eyebrow at the last word. He glanced at Mac and saw her blushing. Then he looked at Webb and saw a smirk on his face. AJ leaned over toward Porter and said, "Looks like we might have returned to the table a little too early."

'If he only knew why she was blushing,' thought Webb.

As they were finishing their dessert, AJ felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder as he heard a voice he recognized all too well. "AJ, old man! I thought it was you out there dancing a while ago."

AJ turned in his seat to see the former Secretary of the Navy. AJ rose from his chair, as did Webb, when they realized Mrs. Nelson was with him. "Mr. Secretary. Mrs. Nelson. Good to see you, again, Sir. Ma'am," AJ said. "Mrs. Nelson, may I introduce..."

But she interrupted him. "Oh, AJ, I know everyone here. Hello, Porter. Mac. Clayton," she nodded to each of them. "It's good to see you all."

"Hello, Elaine." "Ma'am." "Mrs. Nelson," they intoned.

The former SecNav turned to Mac and said, "I understand you gave my replacement an earful the other day, Colonel." He grinned widely, "Good for you!"

AJ chuckled, "That she did, Sir."

"And he called her a secretary, I understand? And thought she was going to be a man? Ha!" Nelson continued. Mac blushed slightly and nodded. "Bet he won't make that mistake again, will he?" Nelson laughed.

"I seriously doubt it, Sir," agreed AJ.

"Well, we won't keep you. Just wanted to say hello," Nelson said, putting his arm around his wife's waist.

"Good night, Sir. Ma'am." "Good night."

"Glad you came over, Mr. Secretary," said AJ.

"AJ, you're going to have to stop calling me that," Nelson chuckled.

AJ grinned. "Old habits die hard, Sir."

"Some are better off dead," Nelson said, nodding. "Come, my dear. I believe you promised me a little something when we get home," he whispered in her ear... but the others heard him.

She blushed slightly and slapped his arm gently. "Alexander! They'll hear you," she scolded as they walked away.

"They certainly seem happier than they have in years," said Porter. "I think Elaine is very glad that Alex isn't the SecNav anymore. He's home a lot earlier... she sees a lot more of him."

AJ wiggled his eyebrows and joked, "Sounds like they're going to see quite a lot of each other tonight, too!"

Both Mac and Webb had just taken sips of their drinks... and both now choked on them. Porter just laughed. "Yes, AJ, I think you're right!"

Saturday, 19 October 2002
0205 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

AJ pulled up in front of Mac's apartment and turned off the engine. "I'd invite you up for a nightcap or something, Sir, but..." Mac hesitated.

"But it's awfully late, and I probably shouldn't be going in your apartment at this hour, hmm?" he grinned.

"Admiral, I just don't want anyone to..."

AJ interrupted her, "And I appreciate that, Mac." He opened his car door and was around to Mac's side before she realized it. He pulled her door open and offered his hand. "However, I will see you safely to your door... even if you are a Marine and can take care of yourself," he teased.

Mac smiled. "Thank you, Sir." They walked up the steps and into the building. "Thank you for taking me tonight, Admiral. I had a..." she hesitated.  "An enchanting evening." 

AJ recognized his own words. "I'm glad, Mac.  And it was my pleasure, believe me," he whispered, standing so closely behind her, she could feel his breath on her neck.

She slowly turned around to face him, doing her best to control her urge to fling her arms around his neck and kiss the life out of him!  "Well, good night, Admiral."

What Mac didn't know was that AJ was fighting a similar urge... to pull her into his arms and bury his tongue in the recesses of her mouth. "Good night, Mac. See you tomorrow evening."

"This evening, actually, Sir." Mac unlocked her apartment door and stepped inside. She turned back to watch as AJ strode back down the steps and outside to his waiting vehicle. "Damned regs!" Mac swore as she closed the door.

Saturday, 19 October 2002
0720 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac awoke hearing someone banging on her front door.  She rolled over and slipped her robe on and slid her feet into her scuffs.  "Who the hell is that at this hour on a Saturday morning?" she mumbled as she walked to the door.  Looking through the peephole, she saw Harm.  "Harm!" she exclaimed, opening the door.  "What are you doing here at this hour?"

Harm grinned from ear to ear and pulled a paper bag from behind his back.  "I brought Cinnabons!"

"But Harm, it's not even 0730!" Mac complained.

"Mac, I'm sorry about last night.  Really, I tried to get Sturgis to go without me, but he insisted that if he had to go, so did I.  Actually, he and Bobbie had a date last night, too... he called to cancel on our way to Norfolk... while I was trying to reach you."  Mac finally stepped aside and let him come in; he obviously wasn't taking the hint that she wanted to sleep some more.  "The Admiral did reach you, didn't he, Mac?"  He saw Mac's nod and continued, "I tried calling him back later to be sure he did, but all I got was his answering machine.  And his cell was turned off.  I guess he and Meredith ended up going somewhere."

Mac shook her head.  She might as well tell him; he'd find it out anyway.  "No, they didn't..." she started to say.

But Harm interrupted her.  "They must have, Mac.  Maybe since we weren't going to use the tickets, he convinced her to go after all... you know, at the last minute."

"No.  He was with me," she said, taking the bag of cinnamon rolls from Harm.  "Let's eat these before they get cold."

"With you?  What do you mean, Mac?  You worked on the case last night?

Mac set the bag on the kitchen table and started making a pot of coffee.  "We went to see the play, Harm.  The Admiral showed up instead of you at 1930... well, actually, he got here at 1925... and we left for the theatre."

"But Mac, he's your CO.  Did you run into anyone you knew?  Did anyone see you together?"

"Harm, it was very obvious to anyone that we weren't on a 'date'.  I mean I called him 'Sir' and 'Admiral' all night.  And yes, we did see a few people we knew.  Actually, Webb and his mother were there... we even went for dessert with them afterward... and ran into the Nelsons."

"The SecNav Nelsons?" Harm asked incredulously.

"Not anymore, remember?  The new one thinks I'm a secretary," Mac giggled, remembering how Alexander Nelson seemed quite pleased that Mac had set the new man straight.  

"Mac, I can't believe you and the Admiral went out together like that!  And then for dessert..."

Mac grinned.  "Actually, I think he might just call Webb's mother for a date," she said conspiratorially.  

Harm raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Mac nodded, "Yep.  Webb sat me at the table, and the Admiral sat Porter... and then they teased each other... and danced with each other... and flirted..."  Harm's jaw fell open.  "Webb was having a fit!  It was hysterical!  I thought he was going to deck the Admiral at one point!" Mac laughed.

"That's amazing!" Harm said.  "So, Webb brought you home, eh?"  Harm felt a twinge of jealousy.

"No, the Admiral did.  Webb took his mother home," Mac said, her hand covering her mouth as she yawned.

"Just what time did you get in, Mac?" Harm asked.

"0205."

"Good God, Mac!  What if someone saw you out with him that late!?"

"Harm, the Admiral told me to let him worry about it.  And that's exactly what I'm doing.  I did as he asked last night, Harm.  And he behaved like the perfect gentleman that he is... and he didn't forget that he's my CO," Mac said emphatically.  'Well, except maybe once... he seemed to be having quite a problem when the show was over after he'd been making love to my hand!'  "You can ask Webb; he even commented on how 'un-date-like' we behaved."

"And you enjoyed the play?" Harm asked.

"Immensely!" Mac gushed.  "It was a wonderful production. Absolutely fabulous!"

"Well, okay...  Hey!  You're already on your second roll and I haven't even started yet!"

Mac laughed, "Ya snooze, ya lose, Flyboy!"

Saturday, 19 October 2002
1858 EDT
Chegwidden Residence
McLean, Virginia

Mac rang the doorbell and waited.  It took AJ a minute before he came to the door.  He was wiping his hands on a kitchen towel as he nudged the door open with his foot.  "Come on in, Mac.  Dinner's almost ready."

"You didn't cook, did you, Sir?  I could easily have just stopped and picked up..."

"I enjoy cooking, Mac.  Well, to be truthful, only every now and then," he chuckled.

"And I guess this is one of the 'now' times?" she smiled, enjoying the aroma of fresh onion and garlic permeating the room.

"That it is.  Make yourself comfortable, Mac.  We have a long evening ahead of us," AJ said, returning to the kitchen.

"Can I do anything, Sir?" she offered, following him to the doorway.

"Sure, if you'd like.  Pour the iced tea and get the garlic bread out of the oven," he instructed.

Mac opened the oven door.  "Mmmm, this smells divine," she purred.  "What else did you make, Admiral?" she asked as she pulled the garlic bread from the oven and placed the pieces in the waiting basket.  

"Veal parmigiana with spaghetti, tossed salad with fresh Italian dressing, and the garlic bread.  Oh, and tiramisu for dessert.  I hope that's okay.  I know you love meat, so I thought the veal might be good."

"Oh, Admiral... it's perfect!  I love veal parmesan!"

"Parmigiana," AJ corrected with a smile.  

Mac laughed.  "I didn't correct you last night, Sir!"

"What?  When I butchered the name of that wine?" he laughed.

"Yes!  I thought Webb was going to bust a gusset laughing so hard!"

"Which one?  Clay or Porter?!" AJ snorted.

AJ carried the tossed salads out to the dining table and Mac brought the pitcher of iced tea and basket of bread.  "Admiral, wouldn't you normally be drinking a rosé with veal?" she asked as she filled her glass with the amber liquid.

"Normally, yes.  But I'm having iced tea tonight," he said.

"Admiral, I don't mind if you drink.  Really," Mac offered.

"We have a lot of work to do tonight, Mac.  I'd prefer to not have alcohol making my brain the least bit fuzzy," he explained.  "Iced tea is fine."

She nodded and poured his glass of tea.  He went back to the kitchen for the tray of veal just as the phone rang.  "Mac would you grab that, please?" AJ yelled.

"Certainly, Sir," Mac replied heading for his desk.  She picked up the receiver. "Admiral Chegwidden's residence.  Colonel MacKenzie speaking."

Meredith's voice came over the wire.  "Mac?  Hello!"

"Meredith, hi!  How are you?  How was your flying lesson?"

"Oh!  It was spectacular!!  I can't wait to go again.  Harm was absolutely wonderful... did he tell you how I flew us upside down?" she gushed.

"No, actually... I haven't talked to Harm since this morning.  You flew upside down, huh?  Wow.  Better you than me," she muttered.

AJ heard her comments as he brought the dinner to the table.  "Dinner's ready, Mac."

"Oh!  Did I call just as you were going to eat?  I'm sorry.  I guess AJ did tell me you'd be there at 7:00.  I was thinking 7:30.  Silly me.  But Mac... tell me... how did you enjoy the play last night?  Did they give a good performance?"

"Oh, Meredith, it was wonderful.  They were so good!  You really should have gone."

"But if I'd gone, you wouldn't have seen it," Meredith said graciously.  "And I'd have been too tired to go flying today!"

"And flown upside down," Mac laughed.

"True!  Well, I'd better let you go.  Just tell AJ I said hello.  I'll talk to him tomorrow.  I know the two of you will be completely consumed in your work tonight."

"Unfortunately, that's true, Meredith," Mac agreed.

When they hung up, AJ shook his head.  "She didn't fly upside down on purpose, Mac.  It was an accident.  And then she started a nose dive!  Harm couldn't get her to let go of the stick!  Finally she did and he got control back.  Then she stepped on the rudder!  God, I thought they were both goners for a minute!"  AJ smirked.  "Good thing Rabb is such a good pilot."

"Just wish he had the guts to say no to his CO once in a while, eh, Sir?" Mac chuckled.

"You got that right, Mac!" AJ replied, laughing.

When they finished dinner, they made quick work of the dishes and moved to the living room.  Mac spread out her papers and findings on the coffee table and went over each item carefully.  Before either of them realized it, it was well past midnight.  

AJ shook his head.  "Mac, this case is not going to be easy to win."

She nodded.  "I know that, Sir.  There just isn't enough evidence to convict Bailey.  Not without an eyewitness.  And so far, no one has come forward."

"Probably because of the Senator," AJ surmised.

Mac sighed.  "I'm hoping that we'll find someone... or something... when we're in Norfolk on Monday, Sir."

"Let's hope so, Mac.  The SecNav called me this afternoon.  They're pushing for an early court date."

"How early?"

"Monday, week."

"You don't mean 28 October?" Mac asked in amazement.

AJ nodded.  "That's the date."

"Admiral, there's no way we can be ready by then!  Who agreed to that?"

"Sheffield," he said in disgust.  "He has the impression that if you go to court sooner, the prosecution has a better chance of winning."

"What law school did he go to, Sir?" Mac asked in confusion.

"He didn't, Mac.  My point exactly."

"I don't see how..."

"Mac, we're going to have to work every night next week on this.  I'm reassigning all of your other cases."

"What will Harm and Sturgis say to that, Sir?"

"I'll be reassigning most of theirs, too... or at the very least, delaying them.  With Bud out and Singer gone," AJ shook his head, "I just don't have enough lawyers to go around.  "Manetti will be taking your cases, and I'm going to attempt to get Mattoni back on a TDY for a few weeks. Let's just hope we don't get anything in next week that can't wait," he muttered.

"Well, Sir, I'll be available to meet with you whenever you have time..." Mac began.

"Every night this week, Mac.  Count on it.  And probably next weekend." AJ remembered what Meredith had planned. 'Hmm, good... I won't be able to do all that nonsense with her!'

"What about tomorrow, Sir?"

"Well, there really isn't much more we can do at this point until we've talked to the defendant and the others in Norfolk.  So enjoy your day off tomorrow, Mac.  We'll leave for Norfolk at 0600 on Monday from the office."

"Very good, Sir."

"I guess we can call it a night, then," AJ said as he stood up and stretched.  

Mac gathered her papers and tried to keep her eyes off of her CO's body.  'And what a gorgeous body it is, too,' she sighed to herself.

Monday, 21 October 2002
0945 EDT
Norfolk Brig
Norfolk, Virginia

"What do you mean he refuses to talk to us?" bellowed AJ.

"I'm sorry, Admiral. That's what he says. He refuses to talk to anyone without one of his lawyers present," said the guard.

AJ turned angry eyes to Mac. She explained quickly, "Admiral, I spoke with Commander Bailey on the phone on Friday. He assured me that he would be happy to talk with us this morning... and he did not see the need for Harm or Sturgis to be present. I explained to him why he might want one of them here, but he said that Harm had assured him we wouldn't trick him into saying something detrimental, and he saw no reason to drag either of them back down here."

"Well, he damn sure changed his mind over the weekend, didn't he, Colonel?" He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed JAG Headquarters. Tiner answered, and before he'd even said his name, AJ barked, "Get Rabb on the phone. Now!"

"Admiral! Yes, Sir! Right away, Sir!"

Not 30 seconds later, Harm was on the phone. "Rabb!"

"Either get on the phone to your client and convince him to talk to us, Commander, or get your ass down here inside of an hour!"

"But Sir," Harm started.

"No 'buts', Commander. That's an order!" AJ pushed the Off button. "Let's go see Captain Cooper. He doesn't have a choice as to whether to talk to me!" AJ grumbled as he grabbed his cover and briefcase.

Meanwhile, Harm got on the phone and dialed the Norfolk Brig. "I need to speak with my client ASAP. Commander Scott Bailey. This is Commander Harmon Rabb."

A couple of minutes later, Harm heard Scott's voice. "Hi, Harm. What's up?"

"What the hell are you doing, Man? Refusing to talk to the Admiral?"

"Dad told me on Saturday that I shouldn't talk to anyone, especially not the prosecuting attorneys, without either you or Sturgis here."

"You knew you had a meeting with them this morning, Scotty. Why didn't you call me and tell me so I'd go down with them? You have any idea how pissed the Admiral is right now?"

"Dad told me not to worry about the Admiral. And to delay talking to them as long as I can. So that's what I'm doing, Man."

"Well, you're not really doing anything but making enemies, Scotty... and that's not a good thing to do... make an enemy of a two-star. Either you talk to them now, or I head down there and you talk to them when I arrive in an hour."

"Takes longer than that to get here from there, Harm."

"Not when the Admiral orders it, it doesn't," Harm said. "And what do you mean, your dad told you to delay talking to them? Why would he say that?"

"Dad says the trial is going to be a week from today. The longer I go without talking to them, the less time they have to prepare their case. And they lose. Dad's pretty smart about those things, you know."

Harm shook his head in frustration. "Yeah, and they lose because of that... all they have to do is request an appeal. ANY judge will grant it on those grounds, Scotty. And an appeal will give them all the time they want. Your Dad doesn't know military law or military judges. Now what'll it be? You gonna talk to them? Or you gonna make me risk life and limb to get there in an hour?"

"See you when you get here, Harm," Scott quipped, hanging up.

"Damn!" Harm swore as he slammed the phone down. He yelled to Tiner as he threw his papers in his briefcase, "Tiner! Call the airfield and tell them I need a helo to Norfolk. I have to be there within the hour. Chegwidden's orders."

"Aye, aye, Sir!"

"And have a driver at the Norfolk pad when I arrive, Tiner! I need a ride to the brig. A fast ride!"

"Aye, aye, Sir!"

Harm ran down to his vehicle, threw his briefcase in the back and his cover on the seat, and jumped in. He raced to the airfield, and found the helo powered up and ready to leave. "Thank you, God!" he mumbled as he grabbed his things and ran to the helo pad.

The helo landed on the Norfolk pad at 1040, and sure enough, there was a car and driver waiting for Harm. He jumped in the car, "Let's go!"

"The brig, Sir?" the driver confirmed.

"Yes, on the double!" Harm pulled his cell phone out and dialed Mac's cell number.

"Colonel MacKenzie," she answered.

"Mac, it's Harm. Where are you?"

"Waiting for you at the brig, Flyboy. You'd better get here quick!"

"I'm on the base. Just landed... hang on." He turned to the driver. "How far away are we?"

"Only about 3 minutes, Sir."

"Make it 2, Petty Officer," Harm insisted. "I'll be pulling up in 2 minutes, Mac."

"You'd better. Your hour is up then."

"Yeah, I know," Harm groaned.

As the Petty Officer slowed the vehicle, Harm grabbed his briefcase and jumped out before they even came to a complete stop. "Thanks, Petty Officer!" he yelled as he ran up the steps to the brig. As he rushed through the doors, he called to the guard behind the desk, "Admiral Chegwidden! Where is he?"

"Interrogation room number 1, Sir. It's just..." the guard stopped talking as Harm ran past him.

Harm reached the room and knocked on the door before opening it. "Good morning, Admiral. Mac," he said calmly, but slightly out of breath.

"About time you got here," grumbled AJ. "Couldn't talk any sense into your client, hmm?"

Harm ignored the Admiral's words; he knew an opposing lawyer's barb when he heard one. And that was definitely one. Harm turned to the guard. "Bring Commander Bailey in, please. Let him know that his lawyer is here."

"Aye, aye, Sir," the guard said, and left.

"So, Harm. How many speed limits did you break getting to the airfield?" teased Mac. AJ looked at her questioningly... then as Harm replied, he shook his head in disbelief.

"Let me see... 50 in a 15, 50 in 25, 60 in a 35, 60 in a 45, and 90 in a 60. And that's not counting all the red lights and stop signs I ran," Harm moaned. "Sure am glad it was late enough that the school kids were already off the streets."

AJ glared at Harm. "Why the hell didn't you just have the helo pick you up at JAG, Rabb?"

Harm looked up with a shocked look on his face. "Oh," was all he said.

Mac laughed and shook her head. "I don't believe you, Harm! You actually drove to the airfield?"

The door opened and Commander Bailey was led inside. AJ immediately barked at the guard. "This man is a prisoner, Chief. Why isn't he cuffed?"

Harm and Mac tried to hide their grins. Normally the Admiral would have been glad to see that the guards hadn't cuffed an officer. But not after the stunt Bailey pulled this morning. Bailey stared at the Admiral; he didn't even glance at Harm or Mac.

"My mistake, Admiral," replied the Chief, taking the cuffs from his belt and putting them on Bailey's wrists.

"Admiral, are those really necessary?" asked Harm. "My client isn't a flight risk or dangerous..."

AJ glared at Harm. "Yes, Commander. They are necessary. He is a prisoner. Those are the rules. Remember?" AJ asked condescendingly.

Harm sighed as he turned to Scott. He shrugged, letting his friend and client know, 'Hey, you asked for it, Buddy!'

"Now, can we get down to it?" AJ barked.

"Certainly, Sir. Admiral Chegwidden, this is Commander Scott Bailey. Scott, Admiral Chegwidden and Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie."

"He knows who we are, Rabb. Get on with it."

"Aye, aye, Sir. As you are aware, my client prefers that either Commander Turner or I be present at all interrogations, Sir. Can't blame him for that, Admiral," Harm added.

"I can, however, blame him for wasting my time, Commander," AJ bellowed. "He told Colonel MacKenzie when she set up our appointment for this morning that he did not feel the need for your being here. If he changed his mind about our meeting, he should have had the decency as a Naval officer to inform us. Or at the very least, to inform you!"

Bailey cringed at the Admiral's tone. 'Uh oh. Maybe Dad was wrong this time,' he thought, never taking his eyes off the Admiral.

Harm was just about to counter the Admiral, when Mac quietly and professionally said, "Shall we begin, gentlemen?" 

"Yes." "Fine." they chorused.

Scott was surprised that both men's hackles seemed a bit soothed by the Colonel's soft words. He turned and looked at her for the first time. "Jesus!" Scott rose from his chair and backed up to the wall, staring at Mac.

"Sit down, Mister Bailey!" bellowed the Admiral.

"Di... Di..." Scott stammered.

"Yes, Commander, if we can prove treason, you may well get the death penalty!" AJ informed him snidely.

"Di... I didn't... I... Jeeeesus!" Scott continued to stare at Mac and could hardly complete a word, let alone a sentence.

Harm suddenly realized what the problem was. He rose and stood in front of Scott. "Scotty, she's not a ghost. You're not seeing Dianne," he said gently. "This is Sarah MacKenzie. She's a ringer for Dianne, yes. But she's not Dianne."

Scott looked at Harm. "And you work with her? See her every day?" Scott asked. Harm nodded. "God, how do you do it, Man?"

"Mac isn't Dianne, Scotty. She's a completely different person. Different personality entirely. Only the looks are the same."

"Yeah... but what looks!" Scott breathed.

Harm grinned. "You always were a little jealous, weren't you, Scotty?"

Scott looked sheepishly at Harm. "You knew about that, huh?"

Harm nodded. "Yeah. Everybody at the Academy knew about that." Harm put his hand on Scott's shoulder. "Come on, Man. Sit down and let's get this meeting over with."

"Still don't know how you do it. Geez, Harm, you were in love with Dianne. How do you stand it?"

"Like I said, Mac is different. She's her own person and... she's just... well... Mac!" Harm stumbled.

"Well said, Commander," muttered AJ. "Can we get down to business now? You can discuss your love life later."

Just as Mac was going to begin her questions, Scott asked Harm one more question. "But how do you do it, Harm? Kiss this one and not see Dianne?"

AJ and Harm both inhaled sharply at Scott's question, but Mac answered quite simply, "He doesn't. It's quite obvious when he's kissed me that he was really kissing Dianne."

AJ was shocked, to say the least. 'Good God! No wonder they've never gotten together!'

Harm looked at Mac, bewildered; he'd only kissed her twice to his recollection. And yes, the first time, he had been kissing Dianne. But not at her engagement party last year... on the Admiral's porch... that had been Mac all the way... 'Surely she knows that?'

Scott, on the other hand, was now satisfied.

"Now, Commander Bailey..." Mac began her questions.

Monday, 21 October 2002
1335 EDT
Norfolk Naval Base
Norfolk, Virginia

AJ, Harm, and Mac finished eating their lunch in the Officer's Club on base. "What's next?" asked Harm.

Mac grinned. "For us," she nodded at the Admiral, "more interviews this afternoon. For you? You get to find a way back home."

"I just figured I'd wait and ride back with the two of you," Harm said. "If that's okay with you, Admiral?" he added.

AJ shook his head. "No can do, Rabb. We drove down in Mac's vehicle, not mine."

Harm gulped. "You mean there's no room for me?" he asked Mac.

"That's what it means," Mac said flippantly. "You oughta know how little room there is in a 'Vette!"

"I'd suggest you start looking for a ride home, Commander," offered AJ. "There's probably someone heading up to the DC area this afternoon or tonight."

"Sir, I could just jump the helo back..."

AJ shook his head. "No need for the extra expense there, Rabb. Find a ride." AJ stood and laid his napkin on the table. "Colonel? What time are our interviews over today? I'd like to take a look at the harbour where all this smuggling took place."

"The last interview is at 1500, Sir. We should be finished by 1530."

"Good. Good. Plenty of time for the harbour."

Mac waved to Harm as they walked out of the club. When they were outside, she started to laugh. "I can't believe you did that to him, Sir!"

AJ grinned evilly. "It was pretty nasty of me, wasn't it..." he chuckled. "Serves him right."

Mac felt the need to defend Harm... a little bit... especially after saying what she did about him. "He really had no way of knowing that his client changed his mind, Sir..."

"Hell, Colonel, I didn't mean for that! I meant for kissing Dianne instead of you!"

Monday, 21 October 2002
1540 EDT
Norfolk Harbour
Norfolk, Virginia

AJ and Mac walked around the grounds. The harbour was large; there were lots of people milling about by the waterfront. "Most of them are tourists, I'd bet," said Mac. "Probably only here for the day."

"True," AJ agreed. "But there are people who are always here, Mac. Dock workers, local business people who eat their lunch by the water, mothers who bring their youngsters to the park every day..."

"Waiters from the restaurants here on the water," added Mac. They both watched as an elderly man dressed in a ragged coat dug through a garbage can. "And the homeless," she added sadly.

"But how do we know who knows anything?" AJ asked, shaking his head.

"We need more time, Admiral," said Mac. "Isn't there some way to delay the proceedings?"

AJ shook his head. "The Senator and the SecNav are adamant that it begin on Monday."

"With what little we have, Sir, it'll be over on Monday, too!"

AJ nodded. "We'll have more by then, Mac. We have a week." He nodded toward a bunch of people in the park. "Let's go see if any of them remember seeing anything."

Continue to Part 3