Part 2/5

Disclaimers in Part 1

“Mic?” cried a startled Mac. 

“Where are Webb and Rabb?” he asked.

“I don’t know.  Mic, what are you doing?” begged Mac, hating to see a gun pointed at the Admiral.

“For the last time, where are Webb and Rabb?” he asked in the same cold dead voice.

“The Admiral called me a while ago said he needed my help but he didn’t tell me what was going on.”

“Well, I’m sure the Admiral knows then.  How about it, where are they?” Mic asked the Admiral as he turned his attention to the older man. 

“I don’t know what you are talking about Brumby,” said a confident AJ.

Mic stood watching them for a few moments as he thought.  “I’m curious.  I said before that all of you were a little in love with Mac.  I wonder if you still are.”  He pointed the gun at Mac to see the Admiral’s reaction.  Mac gasped but there was no reaction that Mic could see.  Mic knew that Webb and Harm were outside skulking about somewhere but he knew that Webb would never talk, he was a spook.  Brumby knew that Harm would never talk because it could reflect badly on his precious Navy.  He thought the easiest way to get the information would be from AJ.   Brumby knew that the Admiral would protect anyone who worked for him, and he would do anything to protect Mac.  This would have been a great plan for Brumby but AJ knew what he was trying to do, so it didn’t work.  He kept trying to egg Brumby on and get the gun pointed away from Mac. 

“Brumby, look at you. Trying to scare a woman," AJ shook his head in mock pity.  "Can't even pick your fights with a man." ‘Damn what is taking Rabb so long?’ the Admiral wondered.  "I'm not going to talk, Brumby.  Not to you, just to the MP's about this interesting collection of weapons sitting around."

"Why thank you," he said sarcastically.  "Well, AJ, you showed up before I planned, but it was expected.  So if you won't talk, we don't need you.” 

Mac struggled to stand up against her restraints and watched in horror as Mic turned and pointed the gun at AJ then fired three times.  Just then Harm and Webb arrived and began firing.  By the time the bullets stopped flying all around the room three of the captors were dead and there three other people were injured.

“AJ!”  Mac screamed as she tried to run to his aid but she was unable to pull herself away from the pipe. 

"Sarah," he whispered after he thought he heard Mac call his name but he passed out before he could be sure.  Harm quickly ran to Mac’s side to cut her restraints and to see if she was okay.  She paid no attention to Harm, instead she raced to AJ’s side.  Harm let her go and then looked down at Mac as she tried to cut his restraints.  Harm called an ambulance on his cell phone.  He knew that Webb's people would take care of everything else.  Webb confronted the injured Brumby, asking why he had done it. Mac ignored everything else as she tried to help the Admiral.  She didn’t notice the look that passed between Harm and Webb as she climbed in the ambulance with the Admiral.  Webb and Harm waited around for a while until Webb's superior's arrived at the site and took care of finishing things at the site.

Mac stayed with AJ until she was pulled away as they wheeled him into the OR.  She nervously sat down, and after a minute she started to pace.  She was wondering what was taking so long both in the OR and why Harm hadn’t arrived yet.  She had been surprised and thankful in the ambulance when the EMT opened AJ’s shirt and revealed a bulletproof vest.  That gave her a little hope that he might pull through. She was very worried about the Admiral, she still couldn’t believe that Mic had shot him.  She needed to talk to Mic and find out why. 

She knew Mic was upset that she gave him back his ring, she just never thought that he would ever do what he had done.  She had trusted him and he broke that trust, the same as Dalton did.  Why did she usually pick the wrong kind of man?

“Mrs. Chegwidden?” a doctor suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

“How is he?” she interrupted, not bothering to correct him.

“Your husband made it through surgery, but he still has a long way to go.  He was shot point blank range.  His flak jacket took most of the damage but the bullet still went through.  It did considerable harm but I think he will pull through.  He’s a strong man.” 

“When can I see him?” asked a somewhat relieved Mac.

“Well, he’s being taken to Recovery now, then in an hour or so he’ll be taken to a private room.  You can see him then.”  He paused a moment.  “Ma’am.  I don’t mean to pry, but is that all his blood on your shirt?”

He saw the pained look in her eyes as she said, “Yes.  Of course.  Why?”

“It looks like you have a hole in your shirt.”  Suddenly, Mac’s arm began to throb.  “Sit down,” the doctor ordered.  She complied.   He gently probed the area around the hole in her shirt and discovered that she had indeed taken a bullet.  “Ma’am.  You’ve been shot.  Let’s get you downstairs to the ER.”

“No, I'm fine.  I want to stay here.  I’m not leaving him.”

“Ma’am, we need to get you patched up.”

“No,” she said emphatically.  She stood up and went over to get coffee and didn’t at first see Harm rush in.  She stood against the counter thankful that the Admiral was going to be okay.

“Commander Harmon Rabb.  How’s Admiral Chegwidden?”

“He’ll pull through, I think.  He’s in recovery now, then we’ll move him to a room, but right now we have to take care of his wife.”

“Wife?” Harm asked confused.

“She was shot too,” he said pointing over at Mac.  Harm looked over and saw Mac covered with blood and clutching the side of the counter.  He didn't think she had been hurt.

“MAC!”  He went over to her and thinking she was weak without another word picked her up. “Where can I take her?”

“ER.  First floor to the left.  I’ll meet you down there in a few minutes.”

“Harm, put me down right now,” Mac insisted.

“No.  Do I need to have them drug you?”

“Harm, I don’t want to leave him.”  She looked up at him and the look in her eyes almost changed his mind. 

“Mac.  We’ll get you patched up then I promise I’ll bring you right back.  It’s going to be a while before you can see him anyway.”  Mac finally nodded and Harm took her downstairs to get her arm taken care of.  She didn’t say anything as the doctor probed her arm then bandaged it.  The bullet had just grazed the outer part of her left arm.  The doctor put her in a sling and told her that she has to take it easy for a while.  The arm will be tender but she would be fine.  The doctor walked out and left Harm and Mac alone for a moment while he went up to check on the Admiral to see if he was ready to be moved from Recovery.  Harm stood on one side of the room watching Mac. 

“It’s all my fault,” she finally said.

“No, Mac.  It isn’t,” Harm stated, knowing the truth.

“Mic was threatening to shot me, but A, the Admiral wouldn’t talk.  I guess Mic realized that he wouldn’t, so Mic said they didn’t need us then so he turned and shot the Admiral.  It’s my fault.”  She started to cry.  Harm walked over and did nothing but hold her and let her cry.  She had finally stopped crying when a nurse walked in, “Mrs. Chegwidden?  We’ve moved your husband to his room.  You can go and see him now.” 

“Thank you,” Mac responded without even realizing what she had said.

The nurse walked back out.

“Is there something you forgot to tell me, Mrs. Chegwidden?” Harm asked with a smile.  For the first time, since it all started, Mac realized what had been said.

“I guess since I came in with him, they assumed.”  She looked down and saw her bloody clothes.  “Can you get me some more clothes?  His blood…”

“I know, Ninja Girl.  Bud and Harriet are on their way over with some.  I called them on the way over here.  I also called Francesca.”

She gave his shoulder a squeeze and said, “Thanks for the shoulder, Harm.  You always make me feel better.”

“What are friends for?” he said with a hint of sadness in his voice.  Mac didn’t notice as she was already walking out the door to see the Admiral.  Harm knew then that he had lost out on what possibly could have been the best thing in his life. 

In AJ’s room

Mac walked to the Admiral's room just as the doctor was leaving.  "He should be awake anytime.  Feel free to go in."  She went in and was startled how vulnerable AJ looked.  He was always so strong.  She sat on the chair next to the bed and cautiously taking his hand in hers, she just sat there while trying to gather her thoughts.  “I’m so sorry, AJ.  It’s all my fault.  I should have done something.  I should have expected they would try to shoot you.  I hope you can forgive me.”  She pulled his hand to her cheek and closed her eyes, almost crying.  She didn’t notice AJ’s eyes began to open and his face lost the pained look. Just as he was going to reach out to her, there was a light knock on the door as Webb walked in. 

“Mic?” she hesitantly asked.  She had known that he was shot but she hadn't even thought about him since the Admiral was shot.

“Dead.  I’m sorry, Mac.  It seems that just after you broke it off with him his mother was in an accident.  He began developing mental problems.  He convinced himself that you were really in love with Rabb and if something happened to Rabb then you would have turned to him.  I don't know if he was also planning on killing the Admiral or not but I guess since he was there…"

Mac said nothing just lowered her head.

"Mac, how’s he doing?”  He asked softly as he looked over to the bed.

She said nothing, just calmly laid down the Admiral’s hand and walked over to Webb.  He thought that she wanted to talk to him outside so he stepped aside to let her pass.  She stepped closer to him and before he knew it, she punched him, breaking his nose.  “Mac!  I said I was sorry about Brumby.  All I saw was someone shooting at you and AJ.  Damn it! What was I supposed to do?”  He pulled out his handkerchief to try to stem the flow of blood.

“How could you set him up like that?  After all he’s done for you, you bastard.  He could have been killed.  I’ve lost enough men in my life, I’m not losing him too.”  Webb looked at the bed in surprise.  He thought Mac punched him for shooting Brumby.  Mac simply turned away and walked back to AJ’s side. “Get out, Webb.”

The nurse walked in as Webb walked out holding a handkerchief to his bloody nose.  “What happened to him?”

“Would you believe, he ran into the door,” Mac said sarcastically.  She stepped aside to let the nurse take his vitals, when she was done Mac sat back down and picked up his hand again. 

After a while she softly said, “I’ve lost all the men who have ever meant anything to me.  I don't want to lose you too, AJ.  Please be okay.”  Just as AJ’s eyes started to flicker, someone else walked in the door.  He was too tired to force himself awake so he let himself fall back asleep.  She dropped his hand before anyone saw that she was holding it.  It was Harm, Bud, and Harriet.  Bud was carrying a bag for Mac. 

“We’ll stay with him while you change.”  He handed her the bag; she reluctantly walked out followed by Harriet.  “Do you need anything else, ma’am?” 

“No, Harriet.  I’ll be fine.”

“Well, you know I’ll help if you need anything.  You just have to ask.”

“I know, Harriet.  Thank you.”  She quickly changed and returned to AJ’s room.

Soon, the doctor told them that they had to leave, except for Mac.  Once everyone left she sat next to AJ and took his hand again.  She soon dozed off.  AJ woke up not sure what was wrong or where he was.  He lay still for a moment before he realized he was in a hospital.  He then realized what all had happened.  Brumby had shot him.  No wonder Rabb hadn’t asked Mac to help.  He just wished that Rabb had explained it so that he didn’t involve Mac in it himself.  He looked around and saw Mac sitting in the chair next to his bed.  She was holding his hand.  He also noticed that she was wearing a sling on her arm. 

She woke up hearing her name.  She was confused as to where she was but soon remembered.  “Sarah?” he asked again. 

“AJ.”  She reached for the call button.

“No, wait.  What happened to you?” he asked as he indicated her sling.

“Seems I got shot too.  I didn’t realize it until the doctor mentioned it.  I’ll be fine though.  It’s just a bit stiff,” she tried to pass it off as nothing.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”  She squeezed his hand.  “Are you going to be okay?”

“Yeah.  I think so.  How about you?” he asked, referring to Brumby's involvement in this.

“I’ll be fine.  It's just a flesh wound,” misunderstanding him on purpose.

“I wasn’t talking about your arm, Sarah,” he said gently.

“I know,” she said as her eyes dropped to their entwined fingers.  She tried to pull her hand away but he squeezed hers tighter.  “I trusted him.”

“I know.  I’m so sorry.  I had no idea.  Rabb called me for backup.  I didn’t understand why he didn’t call you but now I do.  God, if I had known I wouldn’t have asked for your help.”

“He still would have done it.  Clay said this was all an elaborate plot to get me back.  Brumby was going to kill all my friends so that I would run to him for comfort.  I think he snapped after his mother was in the accident.”  He squeezed her hand.

“I’m sorry,” he said.  She gently pulled her hand away and turned to wipe her eyes and take a deep breath. 

“Let me call the doctor in here.  Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“I’ll be back on my feet before the doctor will let me.”

She grinned, “You are rather stubborn, AJ.”  Realizing that she called him by his name she stood up and walked to the window as the doctor walked in.  AJ noticed with some amusement that she stood looking out the window in much the same way as he often did. 

“Admiral, nice to see you awake.  You had us worried for a while there but it looks like you’ll be just fine.  Maybe now you can convince your wife to go home and get some sleep herself.”

“My wife,” he said as he looked at Mac.  She shrugged, he smiled.  She walked back to the bed and he took her hand in his.  “Go home, Sarah.  I’ll be fine.”

She started to protest but he looked at her sternly with his ‘I’m the Admiral’ look.  “I’ll be back in the morning.”  She was about to leave but AJ wouldn’t let go of her hand.  She looked into his eyes as he let go of her hand and caressed her cheek and he softly said, “Good night, Sarah.” 

“Good night, AJ,” she said as she covered his hand with hers.   She took his hand in hers and squeezed then gently laid his hand back on the bed.

To Part 3

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