Harm sat propped against the wall in the hallway, sourly regarding the EMT who was fussing around him. They had fitted him with an oxygen tube and he had to admit it helped but the rest of the effects would just take time to dissipate. He now had two small burn marks on his abdomen to remind him of the stun gun attack. He was really beginning to hate those little devices.

Harm looked around to try and locate Perez and spotted him down the hallway talking to Singer. At least she was okay, no one had gone after her... yet. He kept watch hoping to get the captain's attention. He hadn't had a chance to talk to Perez since the attack. Harm smiled dryly to himself, he hadn't actually been able to string a coherent sentence together until a few minutes ago. Finally the captain turned away and started back up the corridor. Harm raised a hand to get his attention, it was an effort.

Perez knelt down beside him, "How're you feeling, Commander?"

"Like a piece of toast," Harm said. Perez grinned at him. Harm nodded towards his room where MPs were busily taking pictures and scribbling notes, "Mac's briefcase?"

Perez grimaced, "Empty, sir. I didn't see anything in the guy's hand, he must have had the papers shoved up under his shirt." He raised his eyebrows in surprise when Harm smiled.

"Tell your people to look in the mattress, Captain."

Perez went himself and returned a few minutes later holding several thick file folders. "The Colonel's files?" Harm nodded. "Then what did the intruder take?"

"The depositions of a group of drunken sailors in Norfolk who barricaded themselves in a bar and declared their intention of seceding from the Union. The leader is claiming genetic imperative: His great-great-granddaddy had seceded, he couldn't help himself. I've been negotiating with the DA." Harm looked at Perez and grinned, "I switched the folders when I got to my room. Then I slit the mattress and stuffed Mac's files inside, it only took a minute. Paranoia can be a wonderful thing."

The Captain laughed and shook his head, "I probably ought to arrest you for destruction of government property." He looked over as the EMTs approached with a stretcher.

"We're ready to take Commander Rabb to the hospital, Captain."

Harm was shaking his head, "Oh no, you're not."

Perez folded his arms and looked at Harm, "Okay sir," he said equably, "I'll give you a thirty second lead to make your escape." At Harm's dirty look, he leaned down, "Let them take you, Commander, you're too damn big for me to carry."

"Fine," Harm groused, "Just have them take me to Colonel MacKenzie's room."

Perez looked at him in surprise, "Why? So you can do your impression of a speed bump? We drag you in like this and you'll scare the daylights out of her."

"For godsakes Perez, this isn't permanent. I'll be fine in a couple of hours. Mac's probably asleep, you just have to get me into a chair. By the time she wakes up, I should be back to normal. I won't have to worry her at all." Harm adopted a reasonable tone.

"Except that if you don't tell her about this, I will." Perez glared in exasperation at the rebellious look on Rabb's face. "She's a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps! Why the hell would you treat her like some fragile, airheaded female? That's condescending... and stupid, sir."

Harm opened his mouth to protest and then shut it again. Finally, he said, "She's gonna be mad as hell about this."

"Better at them than at you, Commander," Perez said, signaling the EMTs to get Rabb on the stretcher.

Base Hospital
Tyler's room
2210 Local

Tyler opened his eyes when the door to his room swung open. He'd been dozing off and on for the last hour. It'd been a bit of shock when he woke up the first time to find an MP stationed in his room. For one confused moment, he thought they were arresting him for letting the car blow up. He looked over and smiled when he saw Colonel MacKenzie being wheeled in by another MP. "Hey, Colonel." He waved a bandaged hand towards the MP in the corner, "Look, I've got one too." He was feeling a little giddy from the pain medication. He tilted his head to the side and said in a conspiratorial tone, "Do you think I can take him home? I'll bet he can beat the hell out of Jitter Koutz."

"He probably could," Mac agreed with a smile. She glanced over her shoulder and mouthed a quick thank-you to the corporal who had wheeled her over. She hadn't been able to rest for very long worrying about the young ensign and it had taken her half an hour to talk the corporal into helping her see him. Then he had only agreed when she promised to keep the visit to ten minutes. Mac looked back at Tyler, "Would you mind if I called you by your first name?"

Tyler started to look a little uncomfortable. Mac hurriedly said, "If you'd rather not, I understand."

"Oh no, it's not that, ma'am," Tyler said. He glanced at the MPs and lowered his voice, "My first name is Thaddeus." He looked a little forlorn and then brightened, "You could call me Pick, ma'am."

"Pick?"

"Yes'm. My big brother used to say I looked like a toothpick with ears when we were growing up. It kinda stuck." He looked at her expectantly.

Mac eyed him for a moment and then said, "How are you, Pick?"

"Fine, jus' fine ma'am," Tyler leaned back and looked at her for a moment, "Beggin' your pardon, but you look like someone pulled you through a keyhole, Colonel ma'am."

Mac smiled, "Good thing, because I feel like someone pulled me through a keyhole. I wanted to thank you, Ensign, for what you did today. You saved my life."

"Had to, you're nice." He gestured her closer. Mac carefully leaned in a little. Tyler said in a loud whisper, "I'd have left the Lieutenant on her own." He thought for a bit and then added in a conversational tone, "But she probably would have scared that little, bitty grenade right back under the car."

"I think you need to rest a little more, Pick," Mac said with a small grin of amusement. "I'll see you in the morning." She looked over at the corporal to let him know she was ready.

"Okay Colonel," Tyler agreed happily.

"Good night, Ensign." The corporal turned Mac around and returned to her room. He helped her into bed and she was just leaning back against the pillows when the door opened. Her eyes widened in shock as she watched Perez wheel Harm into the room. She reacted automatically, swinging out of bed and moving towards them, ignoring the aches and pains. She froze the approaching corporal with a look and then glared at Perez and Harm, "What the hell happened?" The two men began talking over each other.

"There was someone in Rabb's quarters... "
"Mac, I'm fine. Really... "

"He was after your files... "
"It was just a stun gun... "

"He didn't get them... "
"I've had papercuts that felt worse... "

"Shouldn't you be resting?"
"What are you doing out of bed?!"

Mac abruptly leaned against the side of the bed, the sudden move had been a mistake. Her head was pounding with a vengeance. Perez hurried to her while the corporal closed in from the side. Together, they got her back in bed while Harm looked on anxiously. Mac closed her eyes, the headache was making her nauseous. Perez watched her with concern and looked at the corporal, "Go find a nurse, Wallace." He glanced behind to see Harm struggling to get out of the wheelchair. Muttering under his breath, he took a long stride back and pushed Harm down in the chair. "Stop it, Commander," he hissed. "Unless you think collapsing on the floor is going to help."

"Dammit, move me closer to the bed," Harm said in a low, irritated tone. He looked over Perez's shoulder with a sudden expression of alarm, "Mac... ?"

The captain turned to find a pale and sweating Mac trying to get to the side of the bed. "Sick." was all she said. He grabbed for a wastebasket just as the corporal returned with the floor nurse. She took in the situation at a glance and moved quickly to the side of the bed, sliding an arm under Mac's shoulders. She looked at Perez, "Hold her head, young man." As Mac started to retch, she murmured sympathetically. Mac kept her arms wrapped tightly around her sides as she continued to heave. Perez winced to himself, that must hurt like hell with sore ribs. It was over quickly, Mac sagged against her two supporters. The nurse looked at the corporal and said, "Get some water, please." Then, with efficiency born of long practice, she got Mac resettled in bed.

Picking up her chart, the nurse peered over her glasses at the three men, "Go away." She waited until they retreated to a far corner, then turned back to Mac and said quietly, "You refused your last pain medication."

Mac gave a slight nod and answered softly, "I'm a recovering alcoholic. I'm not going down that road."

The nurse sighed, "Honey, the doctors are a lot more careful these days. That's not going to happen."

Mac carefully shook her head, the expression on her face told the nurse she wasn't changing her mind.

"And there's no point in giving you the painkiller prescription?" The nurse made a notation on the chart, "Suit yourself, any objections to ibuprofen? ... Good, I'll bring some to you now." She turned and strode out of the room.

Harm and Perez didn't waste any time returning to her bedside. "Mac?" Harm said, "You okay?"

"Yeah," she said tiredly. Mac looked over at Perez, "Sorry about that, Captain."

"No problem, Colonel," Perez smiled, "I'm just glad you missed my shoes." He looked at the two JAG officers, "I think we should call it a night, you both ought to be resting." He held up a hand when Harm started to speak, "I'll arrange for a cot, Commander, and see if I can finagle some scrubs for you to change into." He glanced at his watch, "Wallace came on duty about... "

"Eighty-seven minutes ago." Mac supplied, her eyes closed as she settled back into the pillows.

"Uh... yeah," Perez said looking startled. He glanced at Harm who shrugged his shoulders. "So his relief should be here in about half an hour. We're doing two hours shifts. I think we can get everything set up before Shapiro comes on duty." He broke off when the floor nurse came back in with a pill cup. He waited until Mac had swallowed the medication and then followed the nurse out. Twenty minutes later, it was all arranged. Perez took one last look around the room and turned out the light.

Capt. Perez strode up to Colonel MacKenzie's room. He nodded to PFC Clifford, rapped lightly on the door and walked in. Rabb had pulled a couple of chairs over to the bedside. He was leaning back in one with his feet resting on the other. The Colonel was sitting propped up against the pillows with a file folder in her lap. They looked over and smiled when they saw him.

"Morning, sir, ma'am," Perez said, "You both look like you're feeling better." He held up two carryalls, "I brought you each a change of clothes from your quarters. Your uniforms were a little worse for wear after yesterday."

"Bless you, my son," Harm said. He looked over at Mac, "Dibs on the shower!" He rose to his feet, reached for the bag Perez extended and disappeared into the bathroom.

Mac looked after him with amusement and then turned back to Perez, "Thanks, Captain." She gestured towards the chair Harm had just vacated. Perez saw that she had been fitted with a plastic brace that went from her elbow to the palm of her hand. Mac noticed his attention and held it up, "A little something to keep me from aggravating my forearm."

"And a useful tool when applied vigorously to the thick-headed," Perez said, doing his best imitation of an info-mercial.

Mac laughed and answered in the same vein, "And it comes with its own fashion accessory, basic black in a classic sling design. Wear it when a full-body cast is inappropriate for the occasion."

Perez smiled as he sat down, "How's your head, ma'am?"

"There," Mac said. "Have you looked over any of these files?"

"I skimmed through," he said more seriously, "Enough to know we'll have to have Supply conduct a physical inventory. That could take weeks, Captain Harvester will be highly pissed."

Mac looked at him thoughtfully, "If there's something going on in Supply, a physical inventory will certainly tip our hand. We might as well put up a billboard that says 'Run and Hide'. What if we got the delivery manifests e-mailed to us from the manufacturers and compared that to the computer inventory?"

"That could work," Perez said, mulling it over. "I have a computer geek on staff who could probably help. Oh, and our spot check last night hasn't turned up any missing grenades. We're still going through Ordnance but it looks like it wasn't one of ours. Forensics will take a couple of days and then we'll know for sure." Perez looked at her a little warily, "Has Commander Rabb mentioned any other theories for the attack?"

"No," Mac said, looking slightly mystified. Her expression cleared and her eyebrows rose in surprise, "Oh!" She thought it over and shook her head slightly, "I don't think so."

"Are you sure?" They turned to see Harm standing in the doorway of the bath.

"Well, no," Mac admitted, "But why try to grab my files? Besides, it seems poorly planned. It would have been easier to just shoot me or wait until I was in my quarters to lob the grenade." She stopped and looked at the two of them, "All right, this conversation just became weird." Handing the file folder to Perez, she carefully slid out from under the covers. She flashed Harm a grateful smile as he offered a supporting hand. Picking up the carryall, she moved somewhat stiffly into the bathroom. Harm gazed after her with a concerned look and then visibly making up his mind, walked over and tapped on bathroom door, "Hey Mac?"

"Yes?" she answered through the door. She had already gotten out of the hospital gown and robe and was contemplating her reflection. She looked like the poster girl for Roadkill Magazine. Another swimsuit season shot to hell.

"Umm, are you going to be able to... I mean, you shouldn't get some of those dressings wet. Are you going to need some help?" Harm closed his eyes briefly, God, that was smooth - he sounded like an idiot.

Mac wrapped a towel around herself and opened the door a crack. She regarded Harm's startled face with a grin and said, "Offering to wash my back, Sailor?" She watched him stutter a moment and then said more seriously, "I think I can handle it, but thanks anyway Harm." She added dryly, "I've had practice." Closing the door, she headed for the shower.

Harm stood looking at the door a moment longer and then turned back towards the room. He saw Perez intently studying the files in his lap, "Oh shut up, Captain."

Perez looked up with an innocent expression, laughter lurking in his dark eyes. He waited until Harm had settled in the other chair and cautiously ventured, "Are you two... ?"

"No," he said shortly.

"No?" Perez said in surprise. They sat in silence for a couple of minutes, then he said thoughtfully, "Think she'd be interested in going out with a younger man?"

"No."

Perez smiled to himself and returned to reading the files. They worked through the papers in silence. After about ten minutes, Harm began to glance at his watch and fidget. He waited a couple more minutes and had started to get up when the door to the bathroom opened. "About time, Marine. I thought you got lost in there."

Mac arched an eyebrow at him, "Nineteen minutes and twenty-three seconds. I thought I was doing pretty well, all things considered." She looked over at Perez, "Thank you Captain," indicating her uniform blouse. He had taken the time to attach all the correct insignia, something she'd have had trouble with one-handed. She looked at the two men and said, "What about Ensign Tyler?"

"They're releasing him too, Colonel. I understand he's taking a day of sick leave." Perez replied, looking slightly puzzled.

"Will you be continuing his protection, Captain?" Mac asked.

"Well, no. Not after he leaves the hospital, ma'am." Perez looked at her a little more sharply.

"You think he's a target, Mac?" Harm asked.

"It's possible. Apparently I am, either way. But if this is about the Jarvis UA, then Tyler could still be at risk too. He knows quite a bit about the case now."

"What are you suggesting, ma'am?" Perez asked.

"If he doesn't object to not taking the leave, maybe he should stick close to us."

"Yeah, but if this is about 'Archangel', then you're putting him in the line of fire," Harm objected.

Mac shot him a mildly irritated look, "If this is 'Archangel', I'll put you all in the line of fire. If that's the case, I should handle this on my own."

"Like hell you will," Harm snapped. "You were damn lucky those idiots didn't kill you the first time."

"You think it was luck?" Mac went from angry to incredulous. Without another word, she turned and walked out of the room.

Harm watched Mac leave in exasperation, what the hell was wrong with her? He started to follow when he heard a throat clear behind him. Damn, he'd forgotten Perez. Turning, he said in a frustrated tone, "What?"

Perez was standing at attention, "Permission to speak freely, sir?"

Harm gave an impatient gesture while glancing at the door, "At ease, dammit, and make it quick, Perez."

"Do you always treat the Colonel like this, sir?"

"Like what, Captain?" Harm said shortly and then looked closer at Perez. He was surprised to see that the captain was angry.

"Like you're continually amazed that she can cross a street without your help." Perez said flatly.

"What the hell are you talking about? I don't do that." Harm glared at the marine. At the same time, he was getting an uncomfortable feeling, did Mac see it that way? A fragment of a long-ago argument on the Watertown came to mind, "And you have no faith in me... " Dammit, they had resolved that issue.

"Exactly how 'lucky' was she the first time, sir?" Perez glared back.

"That's not how I meant it," Harm argued, "Mac's one of the strongest people I know. I'd trust her with my life."

"But not with her own?" the captain persisted.

"I trust her, period." Harm said. "There aren't too many people who could have broken 'Archangel' and come out in one piece."

"Then why are you here, Commander?" Perez asked.

"What?"

"Why are you here, sir?" Perez repeated. "I could understand if you came out after the attack, but you were here before that. The Colonel arrived in the morning and you were here by the afternoon. I'm not a lawyer but even I could see that the internet case was pretty much done. I knew she had talked to Cmdr. Brighton but neither of us knew she was investigating the Jarvis UA. So, why did you come?"

"Our CO sent me," Harm said reluctantly, this sounded worse every time he tried to explain it. "Lieutenant Singer called to let him know that Admiral Crowley was being...difficult. He wanted to me to act as a sort of buffer while Mac wrapped up the case."

Perez's eyebrows rose in surprise, "Sir, if I were the Colonel, I'd either kick you and your CO's ass or see about finding myself a new home...or both."

"Goddammit, Perez, the Admiral was worried about her. All her friends are. You have no idea what she went through during that case!" Harm threw up his hands in frustration, "Hell, I don't know everything she went through, she won't talk about it. I know she's been having nightmares about it, she told me that much. I'm just trying to keep anything else from happening to her."

"As a friend, that's fine, sir. It's nice to know she's got that kind of support. But as an officer, it's interfering... and insulting. You've all but called her incompetent." Perez eyed the Commander, he wasn't sure how much more he could push this. But it was a helluva way to treat a fellow officer in the Marine Corps.

Harm froze hearing Mac's words being echoed by the captain. Son of a bitch, how the hell would he fix this? He had no intention of leaving Mac if someone was after her. He scrubbed a hand through his hair, "So I'll apologize, but there's no way in hell I'll leave her to face these people alone."

"I wouldn't ask you to, sir," Perez said and then smiled, "But if she decides to kick your six, I may help. Sir."

"Understood, Captain," Harm growled. "Do you mind if I go and check with the Colonel to see if she can fit it into her busy schedule?"

"Not at all, sir." The two men left the room in search of Mac.

Base Hospital Grounds
Memphis NAS
0840 Local

Mac sat on the bench and looked out over the grounds, it was a beautiful base. A surreptitious glance showed her that she still had her shadow. She returned her gaze to the horizon. Harmon Rabb was the only man she knew who could make her go from zero to furious in ten seconds or less. This time the anger had fled as quickly as it appeared leaving her feeling depressed. Rationally, she knew he wasn't denigrating everything she had gone through during that damn case. They just never quite saw eye-to-eye on what was considered acceptable risk for each other. Although (and dammit, she was getting steamed again), if Harm applied the same standard to her that he used for himself, she should be able to tapdance in a nest of rattlesnakes without him saying a word.