Ensign Tyler pulled into the parking space in front of the HQ. 'Deja vu all over again', he thought to himself as he hurried around to open doors for the two officers.

Mac smiled at him as she got out and said, "Thank you, Ensign. Hopefully, this won't take long - I somehow doubt that we'll be invited to lunch this time." She looked over at Singer, who was trying to remain inconspicuous while she edged as far away as possible. "Let's go, Lieutenant."

Mac strode up the walkway with Singer still trailing behind. They were almost to the front doors when she became exasperated with the Lieutenant's lagging pace. Irritated, she abruptly spun towards Singer, "Lieutenant!... " Almost simultaneously there was the crack of a rifle, Mac staggered forward, her hand going to the back of her head. The slug smashed through the glass entry doors eliciting screams from inside the building. For just an instant, the tableau remained frozen. Then came a sudden barrage of shots as the sniper opted to fire as rapidly as possible.

Lauren stood frozen on the walkway. The first shot had caused her to crouch and spin towards the threat. Now with bullets splattering all around her, she literally didn't know which way to go. She gave a startled 'oof!' when the Colonel's weight crashed into her from the side, taking them both into the shrubbery beside the doors. She lay there wheezing, the wind completely knocked out of her, when she became aware of the silence. The shooting had stopped.

Mac pushed herself into a sitting position, being one-handed was awkward as hell. She gingerly felt the back of her head and winced. The growing volume of voices and pounding feet told her that people were beginning to move. Mac looked over at Singer who was still lying there, wide-eyed. "Lieutenant, are you okay?" she asked sympathetically.

Singer was too rattled to be anything but honest, "I... I don't know." She stared at Mac. "No one's ever shot at me before. It's... I... " her voice trailed off.

"It's not something you want to get used to," Mac remarked wryly. She looked up as Ensign Tyler slid to halt in front of them with what looked like half the Headquarters. He looked as disconcerted as Singer.

"Colonel! Lieutenant! Are you hurt?" he said anxiously. He looked over as a Lt. Commander forced his way through the crowd, angrily ordering them out of the way and back to their offices.

The commander spared Tyler a quick glance before returning his attention to Mac, "Colonel? I'm Commander Fitzhugh. Are you two all right?"

"A little shaken, Commander," Mac replied, and then added in a dry tone, "We'd probably both feel better if we could get out of the bushes."

"Of course, Ma'am! I'm sorry," the Commander said, a little abashed. He raised an eyebrow as Tyler made a beeline for the Colonel and then he helped Singer to her feet.

Mac stumbled a little as she regained her feet, keeping a firm grip on Tyler's arm. He looked at her worriedly, "Are you sure you're okay, ma'am?"

"I'll be fine, Pick," she said softly. Her attention was on the front doors and the unwelcome sound of Admiral Crowley's voice.

JAG office
Memphis NAS
1212 Local

Harm looked up from Bell's computer screen when the conference door banged open. Captain Perez stuck his head in and said tersely, "Shooting at HQ."

The Commander surged to his feet with a muttered oath. Grabbing his cover, he turned to Bell, "Corporal, I need you to secure this room. No one outside our group gets in until I or Col. MacKenzie say it's okay." He left at a near run.

Harm caught up with Perez in the parking lot. The Captain was standing by a car, talking on his cellphone. He looked over as Harm came hurrying up, "No casualties, sir."

"Thank God," Harm breathed. "What the hell happened? Was someone after Mac?"

He and Perez climbed into the car as they spoke. Perez glanced at the driver and nodded, "Don't waste time, Bernie." They sped off in the direction of the post headquarters. The Captain looked over at Harm, "A sniper opened fire as the Colonel and the Lieutenant were about to enter the building. Apparently, the only thing he managed to hit was the building and the sidewalk."

Post Headquarters
Memphis NAS
1215 Local

"What the hell is going on?!" Mac could hear Crowley approaching rapidly. She gave Tyler a reassuring smile and stepped to the front. She didn't think he'd bother going after Singer or Tyler, but there was always guilt by association. As she came to attention, she could hear Tyler's quick intake of breath. Mac gestured for silence as she focused on the irate Admiral bearing down on the group.

He stomped to a halt, angrily returning their salutes. He glared at the four of them before turning his attention to Mac. "You!" Beside her, surprise flitted across Commander Fitzhugh's face at the Admiral's tone.

"Yes sir," Mac said calmly. She was starting to feel shaky, but she'd be damned if she let this ass see it.

"I might have known! You're a damn walking disaster, Colonel! I've warned you about disrupting this base... "

"Sir!" Commander Fitzhugh jumped in, he couldn't remain quiet. "The Colonel and the Lieutenant are the victims here! Surely, you can't blame... "

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" The Admiral roared, "I don't know who you think you are, Commander, but this is none of your damn business!"

"I'm Lt. Commander Fitzhugh with the IG office, Admiral. So, yes, I can make this my business. You can't possibly hold these officers responsible for someone shooting at them." The Commander met Crowley's rage with a steely calm. Mac kept the surprise at finding an ally from showing on her face. She really wished the Admiral would just go away, she needed to sit down.

The Admiral blinked, some of his ire draining away as he considered the ramifications. The IG was quite capable of making his life hell. Finally he settled for glaring at Mac, "Fine, just keep away from me and my headquarters!" He turned to go back into the building, pausing as he watched a car pull up and Rabb and Perez get out.

Mac tried not to sigh, she was pretty sure she would hate herself for this, "Excuse me, Admiral?"

"What?" came the Admiral's clipped response.

"You wished to see me, sir?" 'Strange,' Mac thought vaguely. She hadn't noticed the echo before.

"Not on my best day," he said sarcastically, turning back to stare at her.

Mac looked at him in some confusion, "I was told you wanted to see me immediately, sir." Her voice trailed off. She was certain that this was somehow important, but she couldn't quite connect the dots. Besides, the Admiral was beginning to do some very odd things. Mac watched as his face elongated and blended into the building. The building itself began to waver like it had been caught in a strong breeze. It was becoming very important that she sit down.

Harm reached the group a little ahead of Perez. He came to attention and whipped off a perfunctory salute, most of his attention was on Mac. Her face was pale and she didn't acknowledge his presence. She was staring with a certain fascination at the Admiral. He glanced at the Lt. Commander standing next to her and Ensign Tyler who was standing behind. They were both watching Mac with concern, Tyler seemed a little more frantic about it.

All three jumped when Mac's legs buckled. Fitzhugh grabbed one arm, while Tyler leaped to the other side. Harm wound up in front, a hand on either side of her face. Now she was staring at him, "Need to sit."

"Okay Sarah," Harm said soothingly. He nodded at the two men and they lowered her to the pavement. He heard Perez on his cellphone calling for an ambulance.

"Sir!" Tyler said anxiously, "She's bleeding! The back of her head..."

His stomach clenched. Harm looked back at Mac who was still regarding him intently. "Sarah, we're going to lean you forward, okay? You let me hold you up."

"Cold."

"Okay, we'll take care of that." He positioned himself to take her weight and nodded. Tyler and Fitzhugh eased her forward. Harm grimaced at the blood still trickling down the back of her neck. There was a growing stain on the back of her uniform collar. He heard pounding feet and then Perez dropped down beside him. He was carrying a large first aid case. Harm looked at the Captain, "Where's the ambulance? I think she's going into shock."

"Any minute, sir." Perez replied, digging into the case. He handed a compress to Harm, who pressed it to the back of her head. Perez nodded to Tyler and together they eased Mac over on to her back, her head and shoulders still in Harm's lap. Then Perez pulled out another square package and ripped open the wrapper. Shaking out the emergency blanket, he tucked it around her. By now, they could all hear the sirens rapidly approaching.

Singer stood towards the back of the group clustered around the Colonel. She'd been largely ignored since the Admiral's appearance and for once, it didn't rankle. If she had had to deal with that crazy old bastard on top of being shot at, she would have definitely lost it.

She still hadn't processed everything she was feeling at the moment. She had come incredibly close to dying. It was no longer some abstract what if. On one hand, she couldn't remember ever being more terrified. It surprised her that she hadn't actually wet her pants. On the other hand, she was angry. Angry for having been ordered into a situation where she just knew something like this could happen. Angry with the Colonel for whatever it was she had done to make these people want to kill her and angry with these lunatics who had the nerve to actually try to do it. Mixed into that was gratitude, MacKenzie had probably saved her life knocking her into the bushes like that. She was slightly mortified for having just stood there like a deer in the headlights. She was feeling frustrated too; the last thing she ever wanted was to be beholden to the Colonel. And finally, she was mystified. Why the hell did MacKenzie do that? They didn't like each other at all. So why in the world would the Colonel risk getting shot (again, apparently) just to get her out of the line of fire?

Lauren watched the EMTs scurry around and then head back to the ambulance with the Colonel. She saw the Admiral finally disappear back into the building. He, too, had wound up out on the fringes. Not something he was used to, she thought disdainfully. That IG officer had certainly taken the wind out of his sails. She blinked suddenly when Commander Rabb appeared in her line of vision. When had he approached?

"Lauren," he said quietly, "I think you should come with us to the hospital."

She looked at him curiously, "I'm fine, sir. I wasn't hit."

"That's good, but I still think you need to come with us." Harm gestured towards the ambulance, "C'mon, they're waiting."

Lauren opened her mouth to protest once more and then stopped. Shrugging her shoulders, she allowed the Commander to escort her to the ambulance.

Harm watched as Mac disappeared into the ER and then turned back to Singer. "Let's find some place to sit, Lieutenant." They found some seats in the waiting area and settled down. Harm looked over at her, "How are you feeling, Lauren?" "I'm fine, sir," she answered, why did he keep asking that? She could feel the exasperation growing at the skeptical look on his face. "Really, sir, I'm okay. I mean, I didn't actually get shot. I guess that's surprising, considering that I stood there like some mindless idiot. It's just that... I mean... Oh hell, no one's ever shot at me before ... I can't believe... Good god, they must be out of their minds... WHY did the Colonel do that? Why push me out of the way? We don't even like each other." Lauren stopped suddenly, appalled at herself for babbling in front of Cmdr. Rabb. What was she thinking?

Harm smiled slightly at the dismayed look on Singer's face. "Lieutenant, I think you're still dealing with the adrenaline rush. It affects everyone differently. One of the reasons I want you here, is to make sure you're still all right when adrenaline goes away." He paused for a moment, "As for what you said... " Lauren tensed. Harm leaned back a little, "Look, being a JAG doesn't exactly prepare you for something like this. So you didn't move, big deal. You also didn't start screaming hysterically or dissolve into tears." He grinned at her snort of disgust, "As for Colonel MacKenzie... Lauren, not only are you partners - you're under her command. Like or dislike doesn't enter into it."

He sighed at the quizzical look on Singer's face, "This probably isn't the best time to lecture on the qualities of leadership. Lauren, being a good officer isn't only about people obeying your orders. You're responsible for them. You take care of them, they'll take care of you."

Lauren scowled, "I didn't think being an officer was about bonding with enlisted, sir."

"It's not. This is about respect. You can't just demand it, you have to earn it and you have to give it." Harm gazed at the Lieutenant, she could probably make a decent officer. She was certainly bright enough. But everything she did was weighed and colored by her relentless drive to achieve her goal. The people under her were tools to that end, nothing more. Her peers and the people above her were obstacles. The problem was most of them knew it... and resented it.

He decided to try again, "Lieutenant, you can be as mean and hard-nosed as you want. But however hard you work them, you work yourself harder. You can scream and yell as much as you want, but you don't let someone else do it to them. If another officer has a problem with your people, you take the heat. Then, if you think it's warranted, you pin their ears back. They'll bitch and moan but as long as you're consistent and fair, they'll also respect you."

Singer looked at him dubiously. Harm rolled his eyes, "Lauren, how does the office staff feel about Colonel MacKenzie?"

"They like her, I guess," Lauren said slowly.

"Know anyone who would deliberately cross her?"

"Well... " She was about to say herself, but that probably wasn't the smartest thing to say. And he probably meant overt anyway, "No, I don't think so, sir."

Harm eyed her, he could guess what was going on in her head during that pause. "Why?"

"Because she'd kill them."

"Are they afraid of her?"

Lauren smiled dryly, remembering her earlier conversation with the Colonel. "Only if they cross her."

Harm smiled back. They both looked up at the sound of footsteps approaching. Perez and Tyler were walking towards them. Harm looked back at Singer, "One more question, Lieutenant. Who must be out of their minds?"

Lauren actually managed a weak chuckle, "The women who want to be allowed into combat, sir. Who, in their right mind, would WANT to be shot at?"

Harm and Singer stood up when the two men arrived. Perez spoke first, "Any word on the Colonel, sir?"

"Not yet." Harm said. "Any leads on the sniper?"

Perez grimaced, "Not a helluva lot. It was a set-up, of course. Admiral Crowley never requested that the Colonel see him. I'm going to talk to Lieutenant Barker to find out exactly what was said."

Harm frowned slightly and then focused his attention down the hall. Perez turned and saw a doctor walking towards them.

"Gentlemen, you're here for Colonel MacKenzie?" At the confirming nods, he continued, "I'm Dr. Brunson. The Colonel's a lucky woman. She's had the equivalent of a hard rap on the head, and then the shock, of course. Any lower could have severed her spinal cord and any further in would have just killed her. She's on an IV right now, we'll take it off in about an hour and then let her rest. She'll be free to go in a couple of hours. Try not to let her do anything strenuous for the next day or so." He turned around and started to head back to the ER.

"Doctor?" Harm called. Brunson turned back. "Can someone stay with her?"

"Yes, that's fine. Just check with the station desk, they'll tell you where to find her."

They all looked at each other. It was fairly obvious that Harm was staying. He looked over at Singer, "Lieutenant, it's been pretty stressful today. Why don't you take the rest of the afternoon off?"

"If you don't mind sir, I'd rather be working. I want to find these... people," she replied.

Perez spoke up, "The Lieutenant can come back with me. I need to talk to Barker."

Tyler looked at Harm, "Can I stay, sir?"

Harm nodded. Five minutes later, they were standing in a curtained off area, watching a sleeping Sarah MacKenzie. Aside from the IV, she seemed peaceful enough. Harm grabbed a chair and gestured for Tyler to do the same. He settled down and glanced up when the ensign came and stood next to him. He was holding a plastic bag containing Mac's uniform.

"Sir, how about if I take this and see about getting it cleaned?" Tyler asked in a near whisper.

"I think the Colonel would appreciate that," Harm smiled. As the ensign started to leave, he added, "Tyler? Keep your eyes open, okay?" Harm watched the young man leave. These people were keying on Mac which made it seem more and more likely that it had something to do with 'Archangel'. Or... it was a feint to get them looking in the wrong direction. He sighed, they'd keep both possibilities in mind.

Base Hospital
Memphis NAS
1445 Local

Mac slowly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. 'Oh hell... '

"Hey Mac, how're you feeling?" That was Harm's voice, she turned her head to find him sitting next to the bed.

She thought about it for a moment, "Fine, I guess. Except for my head still hurting and being back here again. What happened?"

Harm looked at her in surprise, "You don't... what do you remember?"

"Getting out of the car at HQ. How'd I wind up back here?"

"A sniper opened fire just as you and Lieutenant Singer reached the building. No one realized at first that you'd been hit. You don't remember any of this?"

"No. Is Singer all right?"

"Yeah, a little shook up. I told her to take the afternoon off but she wanted to get back to work. She and Perez are back at JAG. Do you remember talking to Admiral Crowley?"

"Uh-uh."

"Really? You suggested that he try to do something to himself that was anatomically impossible." Harm looked at her innocently.

Mac's mouth dropped open, "I did what?!"

Harm scrunched up his face thoughtfully, "I think that was just after you speculated on his family's genealogy."

Mac stuttered a moment more and then her eyes narrowed suspiciously, "You'd better find a Tomcat to strap on, Flyboy. Because when I get out of this bed... "

A doctor poked his head around the curtains, interrupting her. "Ahhh, Colonel, you're awake." He walked in the rest of the way and picked up her chart.

"Doc, she doesn't remember what happened," Harm said.

"Oh? Well, I wouldn't worry too much, Colonel. It's not entirely unexpected. You'll probably find yourself remembering bits and pieces as the days go by." He finished looking over her chart and smiled, "I think you've set a record for return trips."

"The Colonel's developed a taste for lime jello, Doctor. I believe she'll do anything to get back here for more." Harm interjected with a grin.

"Keep it up, Commander. You know what they say about payback." Mac said in a mock growl.

Harm raised his eyebrows in an innocent expression, "I don't believe I remember... "

"Oohh, that's it." Mac started to throw the covers off.

"Colonel, Commander! If I might interrupt a moment," the doctor said, laughing. He looked at Mac, "Colonel, you're free to leave. I'd like you to go at least twenty-four hours before turning up here again." He looked over at Harm, "Commander?... Run." With that, he turned and left, still chuckling.

Mac arched an eyebrow at Harm, "You heard the man."

He raised both hands, still grinning, "Truce?"

"Truce." Mac looked around the cubicle, "Where are my clothes?"

Harm glanced at his watch, "They should be back any minute now. Tyler took them to be cleaned." Harm adopted a stern expression, "You've been awfully rough on your wardrobe lately."

"Yeah, too bad I've been wearing it at the time," Mac agreed dryly. "A sniper, huh?" Harm nodded. Her hand drifted up to the back of her head, "And hit me here?"

Harm nodded again, he could see it was sinking in just how close they had come. He cleared his throat, "I understand the head is the safest place to hit a Marine."

Mac stared at him in surprise before assuming a look of outrage, "You're cruisin', Rabb."

"No, really," Harm said, trying to maintain a serious demeanor, "I took a class at the Academy." He started ticking off points on his fingers, "First off, you have to hit them hard enough. Something, say, like a Sidewinder. Anything less and they think you just want to be friends. Then there seems to be some lag time while it filters through that they've actually been hit, so it's easy to make a leisurely escape... " He was interrupted when a pillow bounced off his head.

"Squid, you are in such trouble," Mac said, trying not to smile. "I swear, clothes or no clothes... "

"I vote no clothes," Harm said quickly, vacating his chair at the same time.

"What makes you think you get a vote?" Mac purred, a dangerous glint in her eye.

"This IS a democracy." Harm countered, when had they turned the air conditioning off?

"Not in this little cubicle of the world, Mr. Rabb." She gave him a slow smile, "However, bribery is considered acceptable... "