| Subject: Worth the Wait- Ch. 13 |
Author:
Grandma JAG
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Date Posted: 23:29:40 10/26/02 Sat
In reply to:
Grandma JAG
's message, "Worth the Wait" on 22:59:22 10/26/02 Sat
Chapter 13
JAG Headquarters
25April2002
0900 hours
“Attention on deck!” called out Tiner, as everyone snapped to attention for the Admiral, who was entering the bullpen.
“As you were,” replied the Admiral, looking somber. “I have just received a very disturbing phone call from the SecNav. It seems that there has been an explosion on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, somewhere off the coast of Belize. There have been numerous casualties, but it is not known how many, or who they are yet. I checked the Rabb’s itinerary, and it looks to be their ship.”
The group gasped and looked at one another as the realization set in that Harm and Mac might be included in the casualties.
Bud, looking puzzled, asked the Admiral, “But, sir, why is the SecNav involved in this?”
“There is speculation that the explosion was caused by some sort of a bomb. Remnants were found near the site of the explosion that look to be suspicious. Right now, the crew is more concerned with getting the passengers to safety. The captain is an old friend of mine, so I know they are in good hands. And, knowing Harm and Mac, I’m sure they will be of great help to the crew.” The Admiral smiled weakly as he pictured both of his officers taking charge and getting people into lifeboats.
“If they’re all right,” Harriet said, with tears in her eyes.
“I will be keeping in touch hourly with the SecNav’s office for an update,” the Admiral reassured everyone. “In the meantime, let’s keep the TV’s on ZNN, as I’m sure the story is about to hit the airwaves.”
The group in the bullpen stared at the TV screens as the news anchor told of the explosion and cut to live footage of the ship. There was a fire at one end of the ship, and it seemed like that was causing more explosions. Harriet closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for her friends, as well as the others on board.
“Don’t worry, Harriet. If anyone can get out safely, it’s Harm and Mac,” said Bud, putting his hand on his wife’s shoulder.
“I know that, Bud,” Harriet cried, “but at some point their luck has to run out.”
“Luck has nothing to do with it,” Bud replied. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
Harriet smiled weakly and turned her attention to the TV. “I hope you’re right, Bud. I surely hope you’re right.”
Harm and Mac’s Cruise Ship
Off the coast of Belize
0900 hours
At the sound of a second explosion and the ship’s alarms going off, Harm darted out the door into the hallway. Doors were opening up and down the hall, with people standing around not knowing what to do. Harm really wanted to find Mac, but he also knew that he had to get these people moving. They were standing around like deer in the headlights!
“Come on everyone!,” Harm yelled. “Remember our drill the first day? Everyone needs to grab a life jacket and head to the upper decks for the life boats!” He grabbed a jacket and started helping others with theirs. The elderly couple he had talked to earlier fumbled with the straps, so Harm went over to them to help. The woman was trembling with fear as she looked up at this handsome young man helping her.
“Did you find your wife?” she asked.
“Not yet,” Harm responded. “But she’s a Marine. I’m sure she’s doing the same thing I am right now. Now come one, let’s get you up to the life boats.” Inside he hoped he was right, that Mac was helping people into their life jackets as well, and not lying somewhere injured or even.......... He couldn’t bring himself to think about it.
He managed to get all the people from his area to the upper deck, where he met up with the same ship steward that he had talked with earlier.
“Have you seen my wife yet?” Harm asked, anxiously.
“Not yet, sir, but they are loading the women and children in the lifeboats on the starboard side. She’s probably over there somewhere.” The steward hurried over to help people find their way to the lifeboats, as Harm ran through the panicked crowd, looking everywhere for Mac. He could see that the ship was on fire, and small explosions continued to rip through the ship. He knew that everyone had to get off the ship as quickly as possible, but he wasn’t going anywhere until he knew Mac was on one of the lifeboats.
Then, through the crowd, he saw her. Sure enough, there she was, helping a woman with two small children into a lifeboat. He called to her as he continued toward her. She looked up and met his eyes, and relief flowed through his body. He made his way toward her and swept her into his arms.
“Mac, I’ve been so worried. What happened?” Harm didn’t want to let go of her, now that he’d found her. He looked at her closely, and saw that her arm was bleeding.
“I......I......I was jogging toward the port side of the ship, when all of a sudden there was an explosion down below. It threw me to the deck and I scraped my arm and knee.... It’s nothing serious, Harm,” she saw the concerned look on his face as he looked at her arm and knee. “I tried to get back to our cabin, but they wouldn’t let me. I was told to stay on this deck and get into a lifeboat. I overheard the captain talking to his crew. Harm, they think it was a bomb that caused the explosion!”
“A bomb? How would anyone have gotten a bomb on board?” Harm knew better than to ask. If this was the work of terrorists, anything was possible.
“Security isn’t very tight on cruise ships, even since 9/11,” Mac said. “They think that someone snuck aboard the ship when we were docked in Belize and planted several bombs on board.”
“That would explain all the explosions,” Harm responded. “Well, now that I know you’re safe, I’m going to get you aboard one of these lifeboats and then I’ll go help out the captain. Come on now.” Harm started to guide her toward the nearest lifeboat.
Mac pulled away from him and announced in a determined voice, “I’m not going anywhere without you!”
“Now, Mac, don’t argue with me. I want you safe,” Harm knew this was going to be tough to get her to go.
“And I want you safe,” she replied. “Harm, this is our honeymoon. You are under no obligation to help the crew. I’m sure they know what they’re doing without your help.”
“Mac, you and I both know that if there are terrorists involved, that it will involve the military. I need to get some firsthand information as it is happening, to help with the investigation later.” Harm tried to convince her, but knew she wasn’t buying it.
“Then I should stay and help you,” Mac looked at Harm pleadingly. “I don’t want to go without you.”
Harm looked at his wife’s chocolate brown eyes pleading with him to stay together. There was no way he was going to let her stay, but he knew he had to get any information he could about the explosion. The Admiral would think he was shirking his duties if he didn’t do everything in his power to find out the cause of the explosion and who was responsible. Seeing the panicked women and children around them, saying good-bye to their husbands and fathers as they went in separate lifeboats, Harm decided to try a different tactic.
“Suck it up, Marine,” he ordered in his most military-like voice. When Mac looked at him surprised, he softened and said, “Look, Mac, I don’t outrank you, so I can’t give you an order. But look at all these women and children leaving their men behind, many of them frantic and confused. They need someone with a clear head. Someone who can reassure them and console them. Someone who knows how to act in a crisis situation. That someone is you, Mac. That’s where you are needed most right now.” He hoped that by appealing to her military training, that she might then concede to go. His plan worked.
Mac looked at him defeatedly. She knew he was right, but how could she leave him? With tears in her eyes, she reached up to give him a kiss good-bye. “Don’t be a hero, Harm. I need you to be with me,” she said, as she climbed into the lifeboat.
Harm stood at the edge of the ship, watching her descend in the lifeboat. It reminded him of the movie “Titanic” when Rose was leaving Jack. He just hoped Mac wouldn’t be as foolish as Rose and hop out of the lifeboat at a lower deck.
“I love you, Harm,” she called out.
“I love you, Sarah MacKenzie Rabb,” he called back. “Don’t worry, Mac, I will find you. I promise----- I will find you!”
He continued to watch her as the lifeboat gently touched down on the water, and the crew member steered it away from the ship. Then Harm wiped the tears from his eyes, and went to find the captain.
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