BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL – 01:00 EDT

Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie parked her car and stepped out into the cool night air. She hated late night phone calls. They never carried good news, especially when they came from NCIS agents. The past nine years stationed at JAG HQ had brought many late night calls, but this was the kind she dreaded most. As she neared the entrance to Emergency, a tall, uniformed figure appeared from the shadows. He moved with a smooth grace that was as familiar to her as her own heartbeat, angling his approach to fall in beside her.

"I hate these calls," he muttered, echoing her own thoughts.

"Me too," she replied softly.

Side by side, sailor and marine, they strode through the sliding doors. Unconsciously in step, they moved as one to the information desk. The woman on duty there looked up, her eyes drawn instantly to the striking figure in his gleaming white uniform. Her eyes darted to Mac for the briefest second, then rebounded to the man beside her. It was a reaction Mac had seen a hundred times and had told herself a hundred and one times that it didn’t bother her.

"I’m Cdr. Harmon Rabb, this is Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie. We’re from the JAG Corps. We were told a female naval officer has been assaulted."

The light in the woman’s eyes dimmed slightly. "Yes, Lt. Irene Paine. She’s still being examined."

Mac had expected as much. "Can you tell us where NCIS Special Agent Andrew Gray is?"

"Right behind you," came a voice.

As one, Harm and Mac turned. Andrew Gray, held out a beefy hand, first to her, then to Harm. Somewhere around the six foot mark, Gray had to look up at Harm, but then, so did most men. Shoving an unruly shock of hair off his forehead, Gray gestured for them to join him across the hall.

"She was brought in about an hour ago," he said without preamble. "From what they tell me, she’s in pretty rough shape. We’ve got a team on-site at her apartment and from what I saw, it was a particularly vicious attack."

"Any suspects?" Harm asked, beating Mac to the punch.

Gray shook his head, the disgust further darkening his face. "I wish. Apparently, she was out for the evening. Her roommate gave us her date’s name and we’re checking him out, but a neighbor confirms he walked her to her door and left immediately. The roommate found Lt. Paine when she returned from her own date."

"Could the date have doubled back?" Mac asked.

Again, Gray shook his head. "We’ve already confirmed when he returned to his own apartment. There wasn’t time to go back to her place."

"You guys work quick," Harm commented.

Gray fixed him with a pointed look. "If you’d seen that young woman lying in a pool of her own blood, you’d be working fast too."

His mouth thinning to a tight, grim line, Harm nodded.

A haggard looking young man in hospital scrubs approached from the information desk. "Special Agent Gray?"

Gray stepped forward. "Yes?"

"Lt. Paine has been moved upstairs. You can see her now, but please try to keep it brief. She’s very weak."

As a group, they started toward the elevators. Gray fell in beside the doctor. "Did your examination show evidence of sexual assault?"

"Yes," the doctor replied tightly. "Although it looks like he stopped short of actual rape."

Harm, Mac and Gray all exchanged a look, the same thing on all their minds. Did he stop short because he wanted to, or was he interrupted?

Steeling himself for the worst type of interview possible, Harm stepped onto the elevator, moving to stand beside Mac as the doctor punched the button for the third floor. The very thought of a man forcing himself on a woman filled him with the deepest kind of contempt. He glanced at Mac, taking in the tight lines around her mouth, the furrows on her brow. If this sort of thing bothered him, he could only imagine what she must be feeling right now.

He also shot a surreptitious glance at Special Agent Gray. He seemed just as incensed by the assault…and just as intent on finding the culprit. Harm had a gut feeling this was going to be someone he and Mac could work well with.

When the elevator doors opened, the doctor led them down the hall to a door before turning to face them. "I know you have to do this, but please, try not to upset her."

"We’ll do our best," Mac assured him.

With a nod, he pushed the door open, standing aside to let them in.

Instinctively, Harm hung back, letting Mac approach the bed first. Lt. Paine stirred at the sound of movement in the room, turning to reveal a face so battered and bruised it turned Harm’s stomach. Both eyes were puffed up, dark angry bruises circling them. The young woman made a valiant effort to open them enough to focus on the people around her.

"Lt. Paine," Mac said softly, "I’m Col. MacKenzie, from the JAG Corps. I’m here to find out what happened to you. " She gestured toward Harm, prompting him to take a step closer. "This is Cdr. Rabb. We—"

Paine gasped sharply through split lips, her eyes opening wide despite the swelling. So bloodshot they were bright red, her eyes flooded with terror as they fixed on him and a second later, she began to scream.

Startled by her reaction, he was too stunned to do more than take a step back. Mac, on the other hand, burst into action. Spinning around, she grabbed him by the shoulders, turning him and shoving him toward the door.

"Out!" she ordered. "Something about you is terrifying her. It’s probably the uniform. Wait outside till we can calm her down!"

Harm let her shove him out the door, staring at it as it slowly swung shut behind her. What the hell was that all about? Was her attacker a naval officer? It certainly seemed plausible. She reacted the instant she saw the uniform.

After what seemed like hours, the door finally opened again. Mac stepped out, followed closely by Special Agent Gray. Harm took a quick step forward to meet them. "Did you find out what set her off? Her attacker was a naval officer, wasn’t he? It’s the only thing that makes sense."

"Yes," Mac said slowly. "She did identify her attacker as a naval officer, but…there’s more."

"More?" he repeated with a frown, the grave concern in her eyes just now beginning to register. "What? What did she say?"

Mac dragged in a deep breath. "Harm, she wasn’t just reacting to your uniform. She…she claims you’re the one who attacked her."

Completely floored, all Harm could do was stare at her. "She what!"

Mac’s hand shot out, reaching for his arm. "She thinks you’re the one who attacked her, but—"

Gray took a step forward, subtly inserting himself between them. "Commander, I think we’d better go somewhere and talk."

The low, hard tone of his voice made it clear it wasn’t a suggestion. Harm’s gaze bounced back and forth between Mac and the agent. "You don’t believe her, do you?"

"I don’t," Mac said quickly.

"And I haven’t formed an opinion yet." Gray’s hand came down on Harm’s elbow, tightening invisibly. "Let’s move this outside."

Flooded with anger and apprehension, Harm barely managed to keep quiet until they had returned to the main floor and stepped out to the covered emergency arrivals area. Mac stayed at his side, her support as unwavering as it was silent. Agent Gray moved away from the doors before turning to face them. "Commander, where were you between twenty-two thirty and midnight?"

"Home," Harm replied instantly. "I was there all night, until I got the call to report here."

"Can anyone corroborate that?"

Harm’s gut tightened another notch. "No. I was alone."

"What about Mattie?" Mac asked quickly.

Harm shook his head. "She stuck her head in the door about nine thirty to say goodnight. I haven’t talked to her since. Look, this is ridiculous! Lt. Paine is obviously mistaken. I don’t go around attacking women, and even if I did, I sure as hell wouldn’t create a situation where I would be called to investigate!"

"Why not?" Gray countered. "It would be the perfect way to throw off suspicion."

Harm’s jaw clenched painfully. "Didn’t work very well, did it?"

Gray shrugged. "Maybe you were counting on her not recognizing you."

Anger swelling within him, Harm rose to his full height, tension coiling through him. Before he could say another word, Mac stepped forward. This time, it was she who placed herself between him and Gray. "Agent Gray, Harm’s right, this is ridiculous. I’ve known him for nine years and there’s absolutely no way he would do something like this. I’d stake my life on it."

Gray dragged his gaze to Mac. "You heard the lieutenant, she was positively certain about her identification."

"Positive or not, she’s wrong," Mac insisted. Chin jutted forward, eyes blazing, she squared off against Gray, absolute conviction in every line of her stance. The one distant corner of Harm’s mind that wasn’t reeling from the night’s events was deeply touched by her ire. She looked like a little tiger, ready to take on anyone and anything to defend him.

But he didn’t need her to defend him, at least not yet. If this insanity went too far, it was possible he would need her ardent defense – literally – but he was going to make damn certain things never went that far. "Go back and talk to her, Mac. Find out—"

Gray raised a hand. "I don’t think that’s a good idea. Colonel, you’re obviously in a conflict of interest here. It would be best if you step back and leave the investigation to us."

"Not a chance!" Harm and Mac spoke in unison.

Gray looked back and forth between them for a moment. "I think I’d better speak to your commanding officer."

JAG Ops was a quiet as a tomb this time of night. The elevator doors opened and Mac literally felt the waves of tension rolling off Harm spill out into the corridor. To the depths of her heart, she knew he could never be guilty of what he was accused of, but the more practical side of her said it was going to be another matter to prove it.

Damn it, they shouldn’t have to prove it! Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

She glanced up at him as they threaded their way through the virtually empty bullpen. He didn’t need this. Things were just beginning to get back on track after a very rough year. Lately, she’d started to sense a certain peace within him, something that had been painfully absent for a very long time. And now, that peace was about as far away as it could get.

To her surprise, Agent Gray was already waiting for them with Sturgis. Her footsteps echoing in the virtually empty room, Mac strode inside the moment Sturgis waved them in. His dark, serious eyes turned immediately to Harm.

"Special Agent Gray has filled me in on what happened at the hospital. He’s requested that you be removed from the investigation and I’ve agreed." He turned to Mac. "He also requested that you be removed as well, Colonel."

Mac waited, trying in vain to read his response in the inscrutable gaze.

"I said no."

She discretely let out the breath she had been holding. "Thank you, Commander."

Gray rose from his chair, squaring off against Sturgis. "I will be filing a formal protest. The colonel is obviously in a conflict of interest…you all are."

"Agent Gray," Sturgis replied, a slight edge to his voice, "this office has a duty to investigate any allegations brought against a member of its staff. That will be handled internally in a fair, impartial manner. Col. MacKenzie’s job is to investigate the assault on Lt. Paine…" He shot an unreadable look at Harm. "…regardless of where that investigation leads."

With a snort, Gray spun toward the door. "Expect to hear from my superiors." He paused and turned back. "And, Rabb, as soon as I check on a few things, I’ll want to interview you. I expect you to make yourself available."

The two men stared each other down for a long moment but Gray was the first to break, spinning on his heel and striding from the room. The moment he was gone, Harm broke from the formal stance he’d been holding, turning to Sturgis. "You don’t seriously consider me a suspect, do you?"

"No," Sturgis replied quickly, "but he does. I’m sorry, Harm. We have to go by the book on this, you know that. Until you’re exonerated, you are to have no contact with anything involving this case. Is that clear?"

Mac could see Harm gearing up for an argument and spoke up quickly. "It has to be this way, Harm, but at least I’m still on the case. I’ll find something to clear your name."

"I sincerely hope you do," Sturgis said quickly, "but if you go at this thing with that goal in mind, Agent Gray will have grounds to have you removed. You have to be impartial about this, Mac."

"How can I be?" she demanded. "If their investigation is focusing on Harm, it’s going in the wrong direction! While they’re busy trying to dig up dirt on him, the real assailant is out there walking the streets, free to attack again!"

Feeling like he was wading through some kind of waking nightmare, Harm walked slowly toward his car a few minutes later. He’d crawled out of bed a few hours ago to investigate one of the worst crimes he could think of, and now he was heading home a suspect in that crime! The whole thing was insane!

Fishing out his keys with an angry stab into his pocket, he reached to unlock the car door. Behind him, he heard a rush of footsteps and was already turning when Mac’s voice called out, "Harm, wait!"

She hurried up to him, her eyes glowing with an intensity that spoke to something deep down inside him. "I just wanted to make sure you’re okay."

"No, I’m not okay," he replied, his tone a little sharper than he intended. "I’m suddenly a suspect in one of the most disgusting crimes there is. How am I supposed to be okay with that?"

"You’re not," she said softly. "This is obviously a case of mistaken identity. As soon as the doctors permit it, I’m going back to interview the lieutenant again. We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise you."

Harm blew out a breath, letting it carry away at least a little of the tension. "I know you will. Thanks for sticking by me on this, Mac."

A soft, warm smile touched her lips. "Just like you’ve stuck by me."

And he had. The past few months had been rough, dealing with Clay’s death and then his not-so-miraculous resurrection. Through it all, Harm had been right there, ready to lend a hand, an ear, or a shoulder…depending on how close she was to losing it completely. Considering what he thought of her relationship with Clay, his support was as surprising as it was welcome.

Now it was her turn.

Putting a hand on his arm, she gripped tight for a brief moment. "Why don’t you go on home and get a couple of hours rest. There’s nothing more you can do here tonight."

His expression hardened, his tone turning bitter. "No, I guess not."

Her heart aching for him, she watched him turn and open the car door. As he slid onto the seat, he glanced up. "I’ll see you later."

Before she could even reply, he closed the door. A second later, the engine roared to life and he backed away. She watched the tail lights disappear into the darkness, a deep resolve forming within her. She would not allow him to be railroaded. She would do whatever it took to find the real culprit and clear his name.

LT. PAINE’S APARTMENT – 09:10 EDT

Mentally going over her list of questions for Paine’s roommate, Mac slid from her car and started toward the building. Before she reached the front door, she heard someone calling her name and turned to find Special Agent Gray coming up the walk behind her. Doing her best to hide her dismay, she waited for him to catch up.

"Good morning, Colonel. Planning to interview the roommate?" he asked as he stopped in front of her.

"Yes." The word came out sharper than she intended, but she couldn’t help it. Gray’s slightly rounded features tightened a bit and he blew out a breath.

"Look, we both know I don’t think you belong on this investigation, but for the moment at least, it seems no one else agrees with me, so why don’t we try to work together on this?"

"So you can keep an eye on me?" she shot back.

"No…" he replied slowly, "so we don’t overlap. Believe it or not, you and I do have the same goal…to find the person responsible for the attack on Lt, Paine. The fact that I have a suspect in mind that you reject doesn’t change that."

"That’s true," she admitted hesitantly.

"So, let’s combine our efforts," he offered.

She could see his point, but that didn’t completely dispel her caution. "All right, but as far as I’m concerned, this is still two separate investigations. I don’t answer to you."

"And I don’t answer to you," he countered. With a small flourish, he gestured up the walk. "Now, let’s go talk to that roommate."

Mac led the way to the second floor apartment. Lt. Sheila Talbot answered Mac’s knock, opening the door a tiny crack. The one eye Mac could see widened instantly and the door swung wide as the young woman came to attention. "Ma’am!"

"As you were," Mac said quickly. "I’m Col. MacKenzie from the JAG Corps. This is Special Agent Gray, NCIS. We’d like to ask you a few questions."

The young woman stood back to allow them inside. "I…I already told the NCIS agents everything I know."

Mac nodded. "I’m sure your statement was very thorough, but I’d like some more details on Lt. Paine. The man she was out with last night, is he her boyfriend?"

Talbot shook her head. "No ma’am. That was their first date. She only met David a couple of weeks ago."

"How did they meet?" Gray asked.

"At the Naval Yard. He’s a civilian contractor doing an upgrade on the heating system in the admin building."

"Is there anyone else she’s been seeing on a regular basis?" Mac asked.

Again, the lieutenant shook her head. "No, Irene is sort of picky about who she dates."

Mac heard what the young woman wasn’t saying. "Turned down a lot of men, did she?"

This time, Talbot nodded.

"Any of them take it badly?" Gray asked, apparently picking up on Mac’s train of thought.

"Only one," Talbot replied with a slightly sour expression, "Lt. Dean Malloy. It took him a couple of weeks to get the message that she wasn’t interested and when he finally did, I overheard him call her some pretty awful names. He accused her of thinking she was too good for him."

Mac and Gray exchanged a look. This was exactly the kind of information they were looking for. Gray dug a business card out of his pocket and handed it to the lieutenant. "Thanks for your help. If you think of anything else, don’t hesitate to give me a call."

The moment they stepped out of Talbot’s apartment, Mac grabbed her cell phone. A quick call to Bud gave her everything she wanted to know. She relayed the information to Gray. "Lt. Malloy is posted at Naval District Washington, same as Lt. Paine. He’s on duty now."

Gray absorbed this and nodded slowly. "Your car or mine?"

WASHINGTON NAVAL YARD – 10:00 EDT

Agent Gray following like an obedient puppy, Mac strode up to the front counter in the main admin building of Naval District Washington. The petty officer on duty at the counter, squared his shoulders. "Ma’am, how may I help you?"

"I’m here to see Lt. Malloy," she announced. "Can you tell me where I can find him?"

"Yes ma’am." The petty officer gestured behind her. "Here he comes now."

Mac turned, ready to confront the man who was now her most promising suspect but the moment she saw him, she froze, a deep chill skittering up her spine. Stride up the corridor toward her was a tall, well built officer. His height, his build, even the way he moved was frighteningly familiar. Other than a few differences in his facial features, the man walking toward her could have been Harm’s twin.

Burying her shock beneath years of marine discipline, Mac stepped forward to intercept Lt. Malloy. Seeing a superior officer in front of him, he stopped and came to attention. "Ma’am?"

Mac introduced herself and Agent Gray. "We’d like to speak with you in private."

"Yes, ma’am. There’s a conference room at the end of the hall. It should be empty this time of day."

Malloy led the way down the corridor to the conference room. Mac waved him to a chair and sat down across the table. Gray took the seat to her left and for a moment, silence reigned. Malloy sat quietly, but Mac could see him valiantly resisting the urge to squirm. The tension finally became too much. "Ma’am, may I ask what this is all about?"

Agent Gray leaned forward. "Last night, Lt. Irene Paine was assaulted in her apartment."

Malloy’s eyes went wide. "That’s terrible! Is she all right?"

"No," Mac said slowly, "she’s not. She was seriously injured."

She watched Malloy’s reaction carefully. He seemed genuinely shocked and saddened, then slowly his features altered as a realization dawned on him. "You’re here because of…what happened between us last month."

"Just exactly what did happen?" Mac asked.

Malloy hesitated, his gaze dropping to the table. "It was a misunderstanding, that’s all. I asked her out and she said no."

"And?" Gray prompted.

Malloy hesitated even longer this time. "And I…I guess I got a little choked about it. I said some things I’m not proud of…but I apologized later and we parted as friends."

Mac took a moment to absorb this. She had to give him credit for his honesty in bringing up the conflict between him and Paine, but it may have been a smokescreen designed to make him appear cooperative. "Lieutenant, where were you between twenty-two thirty and midnight last night?"

"At the most boring party I’ve ever attended," he replied quickly. Abruptly, his eyes widened. "Uh, ma’am, can we keep that answer between us? I was at my CO’s anniversary party."

She almost had to laugh. She’d been to her fair share of parties like that. "Can anyone confirm that?"

A boyish grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. "What, that I was there, or that it was boring?"

"That you were there," Mac replied, her tone as firm as she could make it while trying to hide her own smile.

"Yes, ma’am. It wasn’t a very big affair. Cdr. Schmidt can tell you I was there all night. I said goodnight to him and his wife about twelve-forty five and went straight home." He sat up a little straighter, his gaze bouncing back and forth between her and Gray. "I really hope you don’t think I had anything to do with Lt. Paine’s attack. I would never do something like that and if there’s anything I can do to prove it, just say so."

"You can start by keeping yourself available," Gray replied. "We’ll have a talk with your CO and see if your alibi holds together."

"It will, sir. I was at that party all evening."

The conviction in his voice almost had Mac convinced they had the wrong man once again – almost. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Malloy had to be involved somehow. The fact that he looked so much like Harm couldn’t be mere coincidence. She voiced that thought to Gray as they made their way to the office of Malloy’s CO, Cdr. Schmidt.

"I agree," Gray said with a nod. "I don’t believe in coincidences."

Unfortunately, coincidence was all they had left after speaking with Cdr. Schmidt. He confirmed Lt. Malloy was at the anniversary party and recalled seeing him several times throughout the evening, blowing apart Mac’s theory that Malloy may have slipped away long enough to pay a visit to Lt. Paine.

Heaving a frustrating sigh, Mac tried to piece together a plausible explanation for the facts they had, but no matter what she tried, nothing fit. Halfway back to the car, she was yanked from her thoughts by the high-pitched chirping of Gray’s cell phone. He fished it out and answered the call. "Gray."

Mac watched the expressions flowing over his face as he listened to the caller until, abruptly, his gaze shot to her. "That’s great news. I’ll get you some samples to compare it to."

A moment later, he clicked off the cell and shoved it in his pocket. "That was our lab technician. They found a DNA sample on Lt. Paine’s clothing…a male sample."

Instantly, Mac spun on her heel and headed back toward Lt. Malloy’s office. They didn’t have enough evidence to compel him to give them a DNA sample, but if he was willing to cooperate… .

"Yes, ma’am," was his immediate response. "I said I would do anything I could to help."

Agent Gray stepped forward and handed the lieutenant a card. "Report to our lab as soon as possible."

Malloy took the card. "I’ll clear it with Cdr. Schmidt and leave immediately."

Blinking hard, Harm brought the text in front of him back into focus. He’d read the same paragraph three times and still had no idea what it said. Blowing out a frustrated breath, he tossed the file down on the desk and sat back in his chair, scrubbing a hand over his face. How the hell was he supposed to concentrate on depositions when his future, his career – his whole life – was on the line?

A soft knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts and he looked up into a pair of rich chestnut eyes filled with tender concern.

"How you doing?" she asked softly.

"That depends on how you’re doing," he replied, still trying to pull himself back from the rich warmth of her eyes.

"Well," she breathed a soft sigh, "I’ve got good news and bad news."

His gut tightening another notch, he leaned forward as she slid into a chair. "What’s the good news?"

"Lt. Paine has had problems with an officer who didn’t want to take no for an answer and it just so happens he looks so much like you it’s scary."

Harm had to force down the surge of adrenaline that rushed through him. "So, what’s the bad news?"

"He has an airtight alibi."

"Oh, great," he groaned, the initial excitement draining away.

"But don’t worry," she went on quickly. "I called the hospital on my way back here. I’ll be able to interview Lt. Paine later this afternoon and NCIS found DNA evidence on her clothing. Don’t be surprised if Agent Gray shows up here asking you for a sample to compare it to. That should clear you once and for all."

"It can’t happen fast enough," he muttered. "I think I’ll go down to the lab and offer a sample."

She nodded. "I thought you might. Tell you what, let’s meet up when I’m finished with Lt. Paine. We can grab some dinner."

Harm knew exactly what she was trying to do, and it touched him deeply. Not too long ago, she had asked him if he would always be there for her. He had answered with one simple word, wrung from the depths of his heart. And now…now suddenly the tables were turned. She was the one quietly offering strength and support.

And he loved her for it.

BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL – 16:40 EDT

Mac’s stomach turned over the moment she stepped into Lt. Paine’s room. The young woman’s bruises had darkened, turning her entire face into a mottled pattern of purple and blue. Her right arm was encased in bandages, a nasty looking contraption of rods and pins protruding from the side. Paine’s eyes, still partly swollen, took on a wary look as Mac approached.

"How are you feeling, Lieutenant?" Mac asked gently.

"A little better, ma’am. I…I apologize for my behavior earlier, but I hope you’re not here to try and convince me to change my mind. I know what I saw, ma’am."

"Exactly what did you see?" Mac queried, keeping her tone neutral.

"I had just gotten home from a date. When the knock on my door came, I assumed my date had forgotten something. I opened the door and before I could even open my mouth a man…he…he grabbed me." Her voice cracked slightly, becoming a hoarse whisper. "I only had time for a quick glimpse, but I’ll never forget it as long as I live."

"Was he in uniform?"

"Yes, summer whites."

"Did you see his shoulder boards, his rank?"

Paine hesitated, her features taking on a faraway look. "No, it all happened too fast, but I know it was him, ma’am, the officer you were here with earlier. His height, his build, I…I remember the way he towered over me as he shoved me down on the floor."

Mac drew a breath, choosing her words carefully. "It sounds to me like you didn’t get a very good look at his face."

"Well…no, not really. Like I said, he…pounced the minute I opened the door and shoved me to the floor."

"Then isn’t it possible that it was someone else who looks like Cdr. Rabb? Think, Lieutenant, is there anything you remember about your attacker besides his height and build? Something that could positively identify him?"

Paine hesitated a long time. "His…cologne. It was…overpowering…a thick, musky smell. It was horrible."

Instantly, Mac was overwhelmed by the memory of Harm’s cologne. She loved the subtle, spicy scent that surrounded him. She wouldn’t describe it in any of the terms Paine had used, but she could hardly use that as a defense. Your Honor, Cdr. Rabb cannot be guilty because he smells good. Yeah, right, like that would go over well.

"All right," she said aloud, "thank you, Lieutenant. You concentrate on getting well, but if you think of anything…anything at all…please call me."

"Yes, ma’am." Paine’s voice was quiet. "But to be honest, I doubt I’ll be able to do anything but think about it."

Shaken by the young woman’s words, Mac left the room and made her way slowly to the elevators. As she stabbed the button for the underground parking garage, she couldn’t help but wonder about the horror the lieutenant was living with. Mac had been in more than her fair share of physical confrontations with men but that was in the line of duty. She had responded as a marine, not as a woman.

Lost in thought, she stepped off the elevator into the parking garage. There were a few times in her life when her marine training had slipped, allowing the woman in her to grapple with the fear of what might lie ahead. Two times in particular came to mind: once in the dingy basement domain of a mad police detective, and again in a hot, stinking hut in the Paraguay jungle…and both times, Harm had come to her rescue.

In a moment of stunning clarity, it struck her that they had been looking out for each other from the moment they met, their lives intertwined in a way she had never experienced with anyone else on earth. When the chips were down, she could always count on him, just as he could always count on her to be there when it really mattered.

Like now.

Other than Lt. Paine’s firm convictions, there was no real evidence against Harm and once the DNA evidence was analyzed, Mac was certain he would be exonerated. She was looking forward to being able to tell him that this evening. Maybe she would suggest they go back to her place instead of going out for something to eat. She could throw something together from the leftovers in the fridge and they could spend a quiet evening just hanging out. It had been a long time since they’d done that – far too long.

Pleased with her plan, she rounded the back of her car and opened the truck. Taking out her purse, she dug out her cell phone but as she flipped it open, a soft sound echoed through the parking garage, drawing her attention to a shadowed corner where one of the overhead lights was burnt out. In less than a heartbeat, ever nerve in her body went on high alert. There was someone in the shadows.

Adrenaline flooding her system, she stuffed her phone back in her purse and picked up her keys, the only thing she had that would serve as a weapon. The shadowed figure was moving closer and in the blink of an eye, her mind assessed all of her options. None were very good. The elevator was too far away, the stairwell even further.

With no defensive options open, she did the only thing she could, she spun toward the threat. He took another step closer to the light and the shadowed form resolved itself into a tall, familiar figure. Tension bleeding away, she dropped her hand. "Harm, you scared the hell out of me! I was just about to call you. I’ve got some good—"

Her sentence cracked into a sharp cry as the figure lunged forward fully into the light and grabbed her in a powerful, painful grip. Instantly, she realized her mistake. The height and build were right, but the man who was yanking her against his body was definitely not Harm. It was the last thought that went through her mind before a huge fist slammed into the side of her head.

NCIS BUILDING – 17:30 EDT

Feeling like he’d been sucked through a jet engine and spit out the other end, Harm dragged his six out of the NCIS building and slid gratefully into his car. After providing the lab with a DNA sample, he’d spent over an hour playing the interrogation game with Agent Gray. It was a game he knew well, but he was used to being on the offensive. In fact, he’d played the hardnosed interrogator often enough to sense that Gray’s opinion of him was beginning to change. It was nothing the man had said directly, but there was something about the way he asked his questions…

Shaking his head, Harm dug out his cell phone. Maybe Mac would have some insight on what had caused the NCIS agent to turn around. He dialed Mac’s cell number and waited. It rang four times before going to voicemail. Strange. Mac always answered her cell phone. And then he remembered she was going to the hospital to interview Lt. Paine. She’d probably turned the phone off. Dropping the phone on the passenger seat, he fired up the engine. If he was lucky, he could catch her before she left the hospital.

It was a short fifteen minute drive to Bethesda. This late in the day, the parking lot out front was nearly deserted, but he opted to pull into the underground garage. The sky had some ominous looking clouds gathering and he didn’t feel like getting soaked.

Slipping into the first available parking spot, he grabbed his phone and shoved it in his pocket, locked the car and headed for the elevator. Glancing at the row of cars on the opposite side, he spotted Mac’s ‘vette. Perfect. She was still here. And then, on the ground behind the car, he caught a glimpse of something else. Was that a shoe…? His steps slowed as he focused on the object. It was a shoe…the same kind Mac wore.

Mac!

Terrified of what he was going to find, Harm lunged around the car but even his vivid imagination couldn’t anticipate what awaited him. Just for an instant, he simply ceased to function. His lungs seized, his feet grew roots, dragging him to a stop. Most painfully of all, his eyes refused to close, refused to move off the horrible sight before him.

Mac lay in a heap, her uniform torn and covered with blood. More blood pooled in a dark, sickening halo around her head. A strangled sound escaping from his throat, Harm dropped to his knees, oblivious to the rough concrete digging into his flesh.

"Oh, God, Mac," he choked. Instinctively, he reached for her but hesitated, afraid he would hurt her more. With infinite care, he slowly gathered her battered, broken body against his chest. Using the pad of his thumb, he tried in vain to smooth away at least some of the blood on her face. "Mac, honey, can you hear me? Please wake up. Please, open your eyes."

What felt like an eternity later, he was rewarded with a slight flutter of her eyelids and a soft groan. Relief bathed his eyes in a fresh wash of tears, momentarily blurring his vision.

"That’s it," he said softly. "Stay with me. Help isn’t very far away."

His voice seemed to be bringing her around, but the ultimate effect caught him completely off guard. As she roused more fully, she blinked hard, her eyes only inches from his blood-soaked white shirt and then abruptly, she began to struggle.

Despite her injuries, she fought with surprising strength, her moans becoming louder and filled with a desperate fear. Stunned, Harm did the best he could to hold onto her, terrified she was going to hurt herself even more. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted movement, but couldn’t take his attention from Mac until a voice boomed out, echoing through the garage.

"Rabb! Release the colonel and back away!"

Still holding the struggling Mac, he turned to find Agent Gray standing a few feet away, weapon drawn and aimed directly at his head. Rage swept through Harm like a hot wind. "Damn it, Gray, I didn’t do this! Put the gun away and call for help!"

"I already have called for help, now release her and move away!" Gray demanded. "Do it, Rabb…now!"

Mac’s struggles were increasing. She wasn’t fully conscious and he was certain she was reacting to the restraint, but he didn’t dare just drop her back on the cold, hard floor. He launched another quick glance at Gray. "If you’re going to shoot me, then do it, but I am not letting her go!"

Then, dismissing Gray from his mind, Harm turned his full attention back to Mac. "Easy, Mac, it’s all right. You’re safe now. Take it easy, it’s me. It’s Harm."

He could feel her struggles slowly beginning to lessen but he couldn’t tell if that was because he was getting through or because she was weakening. The thought terrified him. "Mac, please, it’s okay. I won’t hurt you, honey. Look at me, look close. It’s me, it’s Harm."

All at once, she pulled back, her eyes zeroing in on his face for the first time. She froze, all except for the rapid blinking as she struggled to focus on him, then abruptly, she threw her arms around his neck.

"Harm," she moaned. "You came…you came for me."

"Of course I did," he whispered, holding her as tight as he dared. He didn’t understand what she was talking about, but he didn’t need to. All that mattered was that she wasn’t fighting him anymore.

He heard the sounds of people all around him and when a hand tightened on his shoulder, he tried to pull away, instinctively cradling her close. The hand tightened even further, but the voice that spoke was gentle. "Let her go, Rabb. The doctors are here. Let them treat her."

Very slowly, Harm’s universe widened and he became aware of a white-coated figure kneeling beside him. The man was doing his best to examine Mac through the protective embrace. It was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do, but Harm forced himself to relinquish her into the doctor’s care.

Rocking back on his heels, he rose to his feet and took a faltering step backward. Gray was still beside him, his hand still on his shoulder. With a savage yank, Harm pulled out of the grasp.

"You can’t honestly believe I did that to her!" The declaration would have been far stronger if his voice hadn’t broken at the end.

Gray’s hands dropped to his sides. "Not now, I don’t, but when I arrived, all I saw was the colonel, bloody and injured, struggling with you. You are…were…are…still a suspect in Lt. Paine’s assault. What was I supposed to think?"

"So which is it?" Harm growled, still not taking his eyes off Mac. "Am I suspect or not?"

"Technically, yes, and technically, you’re still a suspect in this crime, even though my gut tells me to believe the colonel wouldn’t have hugged you like that if you’d done it."

Still seething, Harm took a step toward the doctor kneeling beside Mac. "Can you tell how long ago this happened?"

Distracted, the doctor glanced up. "From the extent and depth of the bruising, it had to have been at least an hour, probably more."

Angry triumph flashing through him, Harm spun toward Gray. "There, you see? I couldn’t have done it. I’ve got the world’s best alibi, Special Agent Gray…" He sneered the name. "I was with you!"

Read Part 2!