Title: Back To Russia

Author : Cathy Summers

Email: [email protected]

Rating : PG?

Summary: Webb request Mac’s help with a case in Russia.

Disclaimer: Harmon Rabb, Admiral Chegwidden, Sarah MacKenzie and Meg Austin do not belong to me, only Webb…in a little world I would like to call every Webbies fantasy!

Author’s note: sorry for the misspelling, didn’t have anyone to beta read it for me.

Archive: Sure, just drop me a note

Back To Russia...

JAG Headquarters
December 21, 2002
1600                                                  

 Clayton Webb looked around the busy bullpen. It had just begun to rain outside, and the light in the room seemed to grow darker by the minute, even though all the lights in the building were on. He stopped for a second to look in the direction of Mac’s office. She was working on some case with Harm and they were laughing and joking with each other. A sad look appeared on his face, but then he marched himself to the admiral’s office.

 Where from, seconds later, the admiral’s voice could be heard throughout the bullpen.

 “You want what?!?!” the admiral yelled, making a certain CIA agent, in front of him, jump.

 “It’s a very important case admiral...”
 “I don’t care if our lives depended on it. I’m not sending Mac to Russia with you...what the hell are you thinking?! This is not some kind of a dating service! This is the Judge Advocate General..”
 “I know, but will you at least take a look at the file, before you make up your mind?”
 Webb asked, and handed the admiral a file marked: Classified.

 Moments later Sarah MacKenzie was called to the office, and now the admiral was briefing her about the situation.
 “Colonel, take a seat,  have you ever heard about Lt. Cmdr. Meg Austin?”

 Mac remembered Bud mentioning her once, but nothing more.
 “She was the Cmdr.’s partner for a year, before she transferred out. A pity really, she would have made a fine attorney...”
 Webb rolled his eyes as A.J. seemed to be remembering the past, and decided to take over.
 “Meg Austin has disappeared during an investigation in Russia. We need to get her back.”
 “And that’s it? No catch?” Mac asked, knowing full well, that with Webb, there was always a catch.
  “No catch.” Webb answered, and felt the cold stare from A.J. on his back.
Mac nodded, she had seen the way her C.O. had looked at Webb. But since the admiral had allowed Webb to do this, she figured there must be a reason.

 “I’ll do it....but why me?” Mac asked a bit puzzled. She didn’t even know this Meg Austin.
 “You’ll find out when we get to her,” Webb answered and the added: “Oh and by the way. I don’t want Harm to know anything about this mission.”
 Mac didn’t even bother to ask any questions. She knew he would never answer it.

 “So, what time do we leave?”
 “In 20 minutes,”
 “20 minutes? But I’m not ready...I have to pack my things and finish my case...”
 “Already taken care off Colonel. The admiral has re-assigned your case to Cmdr. Sturgis, and there is a man at your place right now, packing the most necessary things.”
 “You knew she was going to go for it?” The admiral asked somewhat surprised, and a bit angry. Sometimes Webb took way too much liberty with his people.
 “Of course I did,” Webb simply said, “Mac, are you coming?”

Flight 316, 1st class

Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean 

December 21, 2002

2000

After a quick change of flight in New York, they were now on their way to Russia.

Webb was busy studying his papers and classified papers, as he heard Mac yawn. He looked at his watch, 2001. No wonder she was tired, the admiral had told him that Mac had been working all night preparing for court. He suddenly felt guilty for dragging her away with him to Russia, but he needed her on this mission. He took another look at his papers before be put them away and took the arm wrestle up, so Mac could use him as a pillow if she wanted. She hesitated for a moment, but sleep soon took over, and she settled herself so she was comfortable, before going to sleep. Webb decided to watch the movie they were showing. Unfortunately, it was the same movie they had shown yesterday, when he had just gotten home from one of his other missions, so he soon dozed off.

Flight 316, 1st class

Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean 

December 22, 2002

0800

 “Ma’am, we are about to serve breakfast now, so if you would be so kind as to wake your husband,” the stewardess said with her professional smile, as the woman in front of her woke up.

 “Sure,” Mac said sleepy. She lay so comfortable in Webb’s arms that she just wanted to go back to sleep, but she was also hungry. Tough decision.

  “Webb, breakfast,” she finally said, Webb could feel her removing herself from him, and he decided he might as well eat some breakfast, who knew when he was going to be able to get something to eat again.

Moscow Airport

December 22, 2002

1420

 “Boss,” Alexi greeted as he saw Webb come out from the airport.
 “So, who’s pay check are you on this week?” Webb asked as he gave his suitcases to Alexi.
 “Yours,” Alexi laughed nervously, “since you doubled my pay boss.”

  Just then Alexi saw the woman Webb had brought with him this time, and a small smile spread on his face.
 “Ah...beautiful Colonel, what are you doing here again? Do you have Cmdr. Rabb with you?”
 “Ah no, he preferred to stay back home...where it’s nice and warm.” Mac added. It was very cold, at least in D.C. it had still been a little warm.

 “Where to boss?” Alexi asked as they drove away from the airport.
 “Headquarters.”

Russian Headquarters
August 22, 2002

1600

 Mac entered the office with Webb. The building didn’t look old, but Webb assured her that it was at least 20 years. People were running back and forth all the time, it almost made Mac’s head spin.
 “Webb, old buddy.” a man said, as he came out of his office to greet his colleague.

 “We’ve found her. She is waiting for you in my office. Step right in..”

Webb tried to act surprised but he was too tired. Right now he just needed a nice soft bed and 24 hours of sleep.

  “Lt. Cmdr. Austin, how are you feeling today?” Webb greeted. She really looked like something the cat had brought in.
“Webb, ma’am. I’ve been better,”
 “This is colonel  Sarah MacKenzie...she was partnered with Harm, after you left.”

 Meg looked surprised and a small smile spread on her face, “how is Harm?”

 “He’s fine, considering the circumstances,” Mac said with a sad smile. Harm was still pretty upset with Jordan’s death, but she didn’t want to bother Meg with that. She seemed to have enough to worry about.

 “Webb, can I talk to you for a moment? Outside?” Mac asked, something had bothered her since they had left D.C. and she needed an answer now.

 “Talk to me Mac,” Webb said with a wry smile as he closed the door after him.

 “Webb, I’m curious, why did you ask for my help? You must have known that Meg had been found. You didn’t look surprised at all.”
 “They phoned me when we had just landed. I guess I forgot to tell you.” Webb answered and was about to go back in.

 “Webb, can you just tell me the truth for once?” Mac hissed, she was getting tired of this game, and Webb noticed.

 “Okay Mac, here’s the story. Meg has a son. He’s 7 years old and his name is David. Meg has been prosecuting a major named Mika Kritszu, when the court ended Mika was found guilty on all charges. Somehow he escaped and kidnapped both Meg and her son. We found Meg the day before I asked the admiral for your help, but her son is still missing. We think he is still with Mika, going west.”

 “You still haven’t answered my question. Why me?”
 Webb handed her a picture, and waited for her reaction. It was a little boy playing around in some garden, and as Mac looked closer she saw something familiar. The boy’s smile. It was definitely a Rabb trade mark.
 “Harm?” Mac asked still in shock.
 “That’s why I asked for you Mac. Rabb would have gone through the roof if he found out he had a son and he would end up doing something without thinking....I needed someone Meg would trust her son with and who better than Rabb’s new partner?”

 “I should’ve known Webb...there’s always a catch with you. I still think you should let Harm know about his son. He has the right to know.”

 “Do you want to tell the admiral or shall I?” Webb asked, he didn’t even bother to discuss it, and that surprised Mac.
 “I better do it, we wouldn’t want him to break your nose again,” Mac answered with a smile and left to find a phone.

JAG Headquarters

December 22, 2002

0830

The admiral put down the phone and looked more than a little troubled. Mac had just called him and told him, that Webb wanted him to tell Harm that he had a 7 years old son.

 Missing, in Russia of all places! This was not going to be easy. What a start to the day.
 “Tiner, please tell Cmdr. Rabb I want to speak with him.”

Russian Headquarters
December 22, 2002

1620

“Are you in love with her?” Meg asked, as soon as Mac had gone to call the admiral and Webb had returned to the office. She had noticed the way Webb gazed at Mac. It was the same look she had had in her eyes whenever she had seen Harm.

 “No,” Webb said, but his eyes betrayed him.

 “Yes you are Webb, I can see the look in your eyes,”

 Webb didn’t answer he just sat down and looked very uncomfortable.

Meg couldn’t help but smile. So, the time of miracles wasn’t over yet.

 “The admiral agreed to tell Harm...” Mac said as she opened the door, but stopped suddenly, as she saw Webb look very uncomfortable.
 “Did I interrupt anything?”

 “No, not at all. I think we better find a hotel. We have to make an early start tomorrow.” Webb said and gathered his papers, “Lt. Cmdr. Austin, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 “Actually no,” Mac said, “She coming with us. The admiral’s order, said he didn’t want us to lose her again.”

 Webb shook his head as he left the room.

JAG Headquarters

December 22, 2002

0900

 “Admiral, you asked to see me?” Harm said. Tiner had almost attacked him the minute he walked through the doors. It seemed urgent.

 “Yes Cmdr. have a seat,” the admiral stood a minute, considering how to tell the young man in front of him, that he had a 7 year old  son.
 “Do this have something to do with Mac?” Harm asked worried, as he saw the pained look on his C.O.’s face.

 “In a way.. I suppose you know that she and Webb has gone to Russia?”
 Harm nodded, Mac had just had time to tell him before she left. She had asked him to take care of Jingo.
 “Well, what I guess you don’t know is that they are there searching for Meg Austin,” the admiral waited for Harm to react.
 “Why, sir?”
 “It seems that Meg has been kidnapped. Mac just called to let me know that they’ve found her..”
 “So Mac’s okay?” Harm asked relived.
 “Yes, but there seems to be a small problem. Apparently Meg’s son, David, is still missing...”
 “I didn’t know Meg had a son,” Harm said. He and Meg had tried to keep contact after their break-up, but suddenly she had just disappeared from the face of the earth.

 “He is your son too Harm,” the admiral finally said. Harm looked at his C.O. for a moment before he fell to the ground with a loud thump.
 And he is supposed to be a big, bad pilot, A.J. thought as he poked at Harm.
 

Le Royal Meriden National

December 22, 2002

2000 

 Mac looked around the room as she let her bag drop. It was what they called “the classic suite”. It was huge compared to the one she and Rabb had stayed at when they had been searching for his father. This was a five star hotel, it must have cost a fortune, but Webb had said that the company would pay it.

“Mac are you ready?” Webb asked as he looked at his watch. She was running late, pretty unusual for a marine, he thought a bit annoyed. They had a dinner reservation at 8 pm, it was now two minutes past.
 “Okay, I’m ready,” Mac answered as she opened the door. Webb just gazed at her. She looked ravishing. The dress she wore hugged her in just the right places, and made her look even more beautiful.
 “Earth to Webb?” Mac said after a few minutes.
 “You look....beautiful,” Webb finally managed to stammer out. Mac smiled and blushed. It was not often she had been called beautiful.
 “Thank you Webb. You don’t look to bad yourself.”

 “Aw, thank you very much Mac,” Webb said with his usually sarcasm.
 “Shall we go?” he asked and offered her his arm.

 The dining room was breathtaking. The roof was made of something that looked like glass, so you could see the stars shining from above. They had dimmed the light and there was an orchestra playing some sappy love songs.

 During the dinner a woman with a basket full of roses approached the young couple.
 “Monsieur?”
 Webb looked at Mac and with a smile he handed some money to the woman and gave Mac the rose.

 “A beautiful rose for a beautiful woman,”

 Mac blushed slightly.
 “Thank you.”
 “Your welcome,” Webb said, and if Mac had looked up from her rose, she would have seen the love shine through his eyes.

 “So Webb, how did you end up in this business?”
 Webb wanted to avoid this subject and asked her to dance. Mac could sense that he didn’t want to go there, and let herself be led to the dance floor.

 Mac leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She felt a sudden peace roll over her and a smile crept over her face.
 Webb had been surprised by Mac’s gesture, but he enjoyed it to the fullest. He had realized a long time ago, that he had fallen in love with her, but also knew it was a hopeless case because of Rabb. He just hoped that the man appreciated what he had.
 “I didn’t know that you could dance,”  Mac whispered. Webb had kept surprising her this evening.

 “There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me Mac,”
  “You never seize to amaze Webb,” Mac laughed and Webb felt his heart skip a beat.

Outside Mac’s room

December 22
2359

“I had a nice evening Webb,” Mac said as Webb followed her  to her door.
 “So did I,” Webb answered in a low voice, and leaned down to kiss her.
 Bip Bip Bip...

 “Webb,”

 “Webb, it’s me. I just wanted to let you and Mac know that Harm is determined to help, so he and I will be landing in the airport tomorrow morning.”
 “Great,” Webb mumbled, “just make sure Rabb’s doesn’t do anything stupid.”

 And with that he hung up, “sorry”.
 Mac smiled, she had had a feeling that Harm would want to come, once he found out that his son was in danger.
 Webb leaned down once again to kiss her, this time almost touching her lips, when..

Bip Bip B..

 “Webb!” He said, this time really annoyed, but suddenly his face changed into a very serious one. When he hung up, he pushed Mac inside and closed the door behind them.
 

Mac’s Room

December 23

0015

 “When are we leaving?” Mac asked, as she saw Webb preparing his gun.

 “I’m going alone,” Webb said, not looking at Mac, “Harm and A.J. will be here tomorrow, you can go home with them.”

 “No, I’m going with you. Webb, this was why you brought me with you, to have someone to watch your back....”
 “No Mac, you don’t understand.....this is too dangerous. Mika was found guilty of all charges, and let me remind you that that included three murders.”

 “So more the reason as to why I should go!” Mac said, this was almost worse than arguing with Rabb.
 “No, you’re staying here! End of story!”
 “No way Webb, I’m not letting you go after this guy all by yourself.”

 “Are you always this stubborn?” Webb asked obviously annoyed.
 “Are you always this stupid?” Mac shot back.
 Webb stood there for a moment, thinking. Then he angrily left the cottage.

 “Did you two just have a fight?” Meg asked as she entered. She had seen Webb storm out of Mac’s room, cursing all the way down to his own.
 “I guess you could call it that. He won’t let me come with him and search for David!”
 “He doesn’t want you to go because he’s afraid you might get hurt...”
 “I’m a marine, I can handle myself if things get tough...” Mac protested.
 “You may know that, and he may know that. But his heart is not willing to risk it.”

 “But...his heart? What do you mean?”
 Meg suddenly started to laugh. Mac really didn’t have any clue as to why Webb acted  the way he did. 
 “For a lawyer you sure are slow...he’s in love with you Mac.”

 “Webb? No...”
 “Believe it or not Mac. He loves you,” Meg said as she watched Mac’s face change from rage to wonder.
 “He told you that?” Mac asked. Why hadn’t she noticed?

“Almost, but it’s so obvious from the way he looks at you. But if you will excuse me, I think I’ll go to bed. I’m pretty exhausted and we have a long day ahead of us,” Meg said and left Mac to wonder if it could be true. Did Webb love her? 

 Webb’s Room
 December 23, 2002

 0155

 Webb tried to fall asleep, but his conversation with Mac kept playing over and over in his head. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

 “Who is it?” Webb asked, holding his gun in the right hand.
 “It’s me. Are you going to let me in? It’s pretty cold outside…I think they’ve turned the heat off.” Mac said from the other side of the door.

 “Mac, I’m really tired and I’m not in the mood to argue with you right now..” Webb said as he opened the door.
 “That’s not why I’m here,” she said in a soft voice, which caught Webb’s attention.

 This wasn’t easy. It had taken Mac more than a few years to gather enough courage to talk to Harm about their relationship, and now here she was trying to find enough courage in less than a few minutes to talk to Webb, of all people.

 “Mac, is something wrong?”
 “I talked to Meg after you left...”
 “Oh brother..” Webb mumbled and ran his fingers through his hair.
 “She told me about the conversation you two had when I was calling the admiral.”

 Ding Dong, suddenly Webb knew where this was going, and he could feel a slight blush creep.

 Mac could suddenly see what Meg had been talking about. Had she really been that occupied with Harm, that she hadn’t seen this one coming? Apparently you fool, Mac said to herself.

“Oh...” that was the only thing Webb could think of to say. His deepest secret was about to be revealed.

 Nervously he took a look at Mac, and Mac could feel the butterflies in her stomach. She had never noticed that he had green eyes. She had often thought they were hazel.

 Webb decided to risk everything and as she was lost in her own thoughts, he leaned down and kissed her.

 His soft lips met hers, and she felt her legs go all jelly with her. Webb noticed her reaction and smiled. His own heart beating so loud that he was sure she could hear it. Slowly she opened her mouth and his tongue slipped in and explored every inch of her mouth.
 Mac backed away after a few minutes. Her mind a mess.

 “But why me Webb? You must be surrounded by beautiful women all the time...what’s so special about me?” she asked breathlessly. She needed to hear this before they went any further.

 “True you’re beautiful and that was the first thing that attracted me to you...but you are also fun.. intelligent....sexy....” he said in-between kisses and added: “of course you’re also stubborn as hell.”
 “Watch it!” Mac warned as she playfully slapped his arm. And before she knew of it, he had swept her up in his arms, and gently placed her on the bed.

 “Are you okay with this?” He asked a bit unsure, but by the look in her eyes, she didn’t have any objections.

Webb’s Room
August 24

0900

“Good morning beautiful,” Webb said and kissed her lips as she opened her eyes, “Merry Christmas”
“Good morning yourself,” Mac couldn’t help but smile. It was Christmas and here she was in Russia with Webb. The weirdness in all of this suddenly hit her.
 “You know Webb, if anybody had told me that we were going to end up like this six years ago, I would have told them to stuff it.”
 Webb tried to look hurt, but failed miserably as he saw Mac’s grin.
 “Seriously, could you just imagine the face on the admiral’s face, if he found out?”
 “He’d probably break my nose again, or worse.” Webb answered with a wry grin. He didn’t really want to think about what the admiral might do to him, when he found out.

“We better get going. Mika can’t have gotten far,” Webb said and got out of bed, showered and changed into his work clothes. It didn’t take him more than three minutes. Mac was impressed.
 “You thinking about joining the marines, Webb?”

Somewhere in Russia

August 24

Time 1400

As they neared the lake, they could see two lonely figures going across it. Webb jumped out of the car with Mac and Meg just right behind him.
 “Major Kritszu!”

 Mika turned around. Damn it, he thought. He had been so careful not to leave any trace at all.

“All I asked for was a proper defence!” Mika yelled from the middle of the frozen lake, tightening his grip on the little boy, “but they refused to grant me that!”
 Mac could hear the ice cracking, as Mika backed away from them.
 “Can’t you see? This is the only way to get them to listen to me...”

 Suddenly the ice began to make some disturbing noises and Mac made a quick decision. Her eyes met Webb’s.
 “I love you,” she whispered and Webb felt a shiver run down his spine. He knew, from the look in her eyes, what she was about to do.

 “Sarah? NO!!” Webb yelled, his voice desperate, as she tackled Mika, giving David the time to run to his mother, before the ice broke and swallowed both Mika and Mac.

“Sarah?!” Webb ran to the hole, where he had last seen her. His heart breaking into a thousand pieces, as he only saw the tranquil surface. He made a rash decision and didn’t even stop to take of his trench coat.
 Meg looked on in amazement as she saw Webb dive into the cold water after Mac, and after the longest 30 seconds in her life, Webb resurfaced with Mac in his arms. Meg felt relief wash over her, but it only lasted for a few seconds, because then she saw that Mac looked lifeless in Webb’s strong arms.
 Webb was cold and he couldn’t feel his body anymore, but all that mattered was Mac. He tried to keep her warm, hoping that A.J. would hurry up.

Meg felt so sorry for Webb. He looked so lost. Just then a helicopter landed nearby, and both Harm and the admiral came out of it, but Webb didn’t notice any of this.

“Sarah? Honey? Don’t do this to me....” he whispered in her ears as he cradled her in his arms, “please, don’t...”

“Webb?” Harm said as he approached the grieving man. Harm had a hard time controlling his own emotions, he had just lost his best friend.
 “No Harm, back off! Stay away from her!!” Webb hissed, “it’s your fault she is dead! She did this for you! Just so you could meet your son!”

 The impact of those words made Harm want to put a knife through his heart. She had given her life, so that his son could live? His jarhead always managed to surprise him.

 Suddenly Webb’s tough appearance was gone, and tears rolled down his cheek. Harm and A.J. both looked uncomfortable. This man, who was supposed to have no heart, was now crying a river over the lifeless body in his arms. As Webb looked up, his eyes were filled with grief and sorrow. Only a man with a broken heart could have so much pain inside.
 “Tell me what you see,” Webb yelled angrily, as he noticed the stares from the people standing by him, “tell me! A spook? A heartless man?”
 “No Clay, I see a man in love.” A.J. answered in a heartfelt, fatherly tone. Webb just looked at him, and then his whole body began to shake as the pain of losing Mac again washed over him.

THE END

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