THE FOLLOWING MORNING
SHEREMYETEVO AIRPORT
MOSCOW, RUSSIA

After sitting on the runway for forty-five minutes waiting to take off, a ten hour flight and a partner who could barely stand to look at her, much less speak to her, Mac was not only tired but frustrated.  All her attempts at conversation, even about the plan to locate Sergei, had been met with a stony silence and turned head.  Furious with herself and with him for letting things between them degenerate to this state, she had eventually given up, settling into her seat to sleep.  That had only led to more problems later in the flight when turbulence had woken them both up.  Mac had shifted as she had slept and had eventually ended up with her head resting against Harm's shoulder.  Then he had woken up and discovered their position.

Forcing down the warm feeling that he had at feeling her snuggled up against him, Harm had pulled away from her forcefully, startling Mac before she had a chance to completely awaken and realize what was going on.  Mac, for her part, despite the intense feeling of sadness, hadn't reacted, even when he had succinctly suggested that she move to the only other empty seat in the cabin a few rows in front of them.  She had merely given him a hard stare and settled back in to fall asleep again, this time turned away from him so that she wouldn't accidentally end up leaning against him. 

After silently making their way through customs and baggage claim, they had left the airport and had promptly been met by a familiar, friendly face. "Beautiful Colonel," Alexei exclaimed, siding up to Mac.  "I knew you would come back and this time Commander Rabb is with you.   You do not have to chase after him into Chechnya." 

"It's good to see you, too, Alexei," Mac said, forcing a cheerful smile. "How'd you know we'd be here?"

"Mr. Webb told me that you would be coming," Alexei replied, taking their bags from them.  He nodded towards Harm.  "Commander, it is good to see you again."

"Thank you, Alexei," Harm replied automatically, trying not to think about Alexei's earlier statement about Mac's following him into the war-torn province.  That seemed like another lifetime ago.  "But unfortunately, I do need to go into Chechnya.  My brother is missing." 

"Actually, *we* need to go into Chechnya," Mac clarified, shooting Harm a tense glance which he ignored.  Alexei took their bags and loaded them into the trunk while Harm and Mac climbed into the back seat, sitting as far apart as possible, both looking out their respective windows. 

"You two!" Alexei exclaimed as he got behind the wheel.  "Willing to drive through a war zone for each other and now with each other."  Alexei then muttered something under his breath in Russian directed towards Mac, which had her biting her lower lip nervously as she wondered whether Harm was going to ask for a translation.  Harm, despite his intense curiosity, remained silent while trying to ignore those statements that he had understood.  He didn't want Mac to care.  He didn't want her to go through a war zone with him or for him.

'Are you going to tell me now that you do not love Commander Rabb?' Alexei's question echoed in Mac's mind.  She couldn't answer that question. Or maybe she didn't want to admit the answer to that question.  She couldn't decide which was more accurate.  She thought she had buried any romantic feelings once and for all that night on the ferry, but now that Harm was mad at her for accepting Mic's proposal – or, probably more accurately, for the way he had found out about it – and he seemed to barely be able to stand the sight of her, those feelings were oddly resurfacing. 

Trying to push those thoughts from her mind, Mac directed Alexei, "Actually, Alexei, we'd appreciate it if you could take us to see Major Sokol."  At the slightly disgusted look Harm shot her as he turned his head, she countered, "Do you have a better idea?  We can't just drive into Chechnya like I did last time.  I knew from Mark where to find you.  We have no idea where to begin looking for Sergei.  We're going to need his help to get anywhere." 

As much as he wanted to, Harm found that he couldn't argue with her conclusions.    He couldn't just run off half-cocked hoping to find his brother in the middle of a war.  With a terse nod from Harm, Alexei pulled away from the airport while muttering in Russian that at least *he* wouldn't be driving them into Chechnya this time. 

JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

Mic strode into the bullpen, clutching the letter from Mac which had been delivered to him at work that morning, trying not to glance at the two dark offices in the corner.  After spending the previous day trying to get a hold of Mac and even trying to contact Harm, he'd had the sinking feeling that she had followed him to Russia again.  The letter was just a confirmation of what he had already known deep down.  But he took no comfort in her promise to revisit her decision to return his ring when she returned.  He thought it was the ultimate bitter irony that as soon as he'd finally won her and got her to move the ring over that he had lost her, possibly forever. 

He entered the Admiral's outer office and stopped in front of Tiner's desk. Tiner looked up from some paperwork and smiled at him.  "Hello, Commander Brumby," he said brightly, still having a hard time remembering Mic's status as a civilian.  "What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to see Admiral Chegwidden if he's available," Mic replied, not bothering to correct the way Tiner addressed him. 

"Actually, the Admiral asked not to be disturbed," Tiner reported.  He lowered his voice and added confidentially, "He's in kind of a bad mood today."

Mic could just imagine what had the Admiral in a bad mood.  He was hardly the man to take well to the news that two of his officers had just packed up and taken off for Russia with barely a moment's notice.  He was about to suggest leaving a message when the Admiral's voice came over the intercom on Tiner's phone. 

"Tiner, get me Webb on the phone," AJ barked, "and you'd probably better get a hold of Mic Brumby, too.  He's going to need to hear this."

Tiner pressed a button on his phone and informed his CO, "Sir, Commander Brumby is here right now wanting to speak with you." 

"Then send him in," AJ ordered, "and don't forget about Webb." 

As Tiner dialed Webb's number, he glanced sympathetically at Mic.  "You can go in, Sir," he told Mic.

As Mic entered the inner office, he found AJ sitting at his desk, two sheets of paper laid out on the desk in front of him.  One Mic assumed was a letter from Mac, being on the same type of paper as the letter Mic now held in his hand.  The other he could only assume was from Harm.  On the corner of the desk was a newspaper Mic recognized as the previous day's edition of the Washington Post.  He'd seen the paper and had read with more interest than he wanted to admit the story about the Russian son of an American POW from the Vietnam War who had gone missing in Chechnya.

Looking up over his glasses at Mic, AJ gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk.  "Please take a seat, Mic," he said, glancing at the paper Mic held in his hand.  "That's from Colonel Mackenzie, I take it?"

"Yes, Sir," Mic replied sadly.  "It was delivered to me at work this morning."  He didn't see any need to mention the fact that enclosed with the letter had been her engagement ring, which Mic was keeping safe on a chain around his neck, even as he feared that she wouldn't take it back.

AJ held up one of the letters on his desk.  "This is from the Colonel as well," he informed Mic, "informing me that she was on a flight last night to Russia with Rabb."  He left out Mac's quite passionate defense of Harm's decision to search for his brother and her equally passionate insistence that she had to accompany him to watch his six.  Secretly, AJ felt marginally better knowing that Harm wasn't going to be alone, even as he was furious that not one but two of his officers had taken it into their heads to take off without permission. 

As the SecNav had once said, Harm caused him more problems than anyone else under his command, with Mac probably not that far behind him in the problem-causing department.  But the fact that they were two of the best lawyers in the military usually balanced out that fact.  But AJ wasn't so sure that was going to keep them out of trouble – or in the military – this time. 

Before Mic could say anything, Tiner's voice came over the intercom.  "Sir, I've got Clayton Webb on line two," he announced. 

AJ pressed a button and put Clay on speakerphone so Mic could hear and participate in the conversation.  "Webb, what the hell is going on with my people?" he demanded.

"They've gone to Chechnya to find Sergei Zhukov," Clay replied matter-of-factly, refusing to let AJ ruffle his feathers and praying that he could stay as far away from the ex-SEAL as possible until Harm and Mac were back from Russia.  He still had very vivid memories of a broken nose, courtesy of a furious Admiral during their first trip to Russia.

"I knew Rabb was going to go, come hell or high water," AJ exclaimed.  "How the hell did Mac end up going with him?"  Harm had given no hint that he hadn't planned on pursuing this alone.

"Mac called me the night before last," Clay explained calmly.  "I had informed her earlier of Rabb's decision hoping she could talk him out of it. After talking to Harm, she asked me for his travel information."  He paused for a long moment, then added,  "AJ, I don't think Harm knew she was going with him, probably not until she showed up at the airport last night."

"Let me get this straight, Webb," AJ said.  "You call Mac, hoping she'll talk Rabb out of going and she ends up going with him!?  Explain that one to me."

"You know there was no way she was going to stay behind if he did end up going," Clay pointed out.  "The last time she was in Russia, she traveled all the way to Chechnya in a taxi to find him.  And the time before that, they traveled together through Siberia in a gypsy wagon."

AJ glanced at Mic, trying to gage his reaction, but Mic merely stared at the phone, listening to what Clay was saying, seemingly disinterested.  But Mic was far from disinterested.  Mac had never gone into detail about her first trip to Russia, merely mentioning in passing that she and Harm had been there before.  There were obviously a lot of things Harm and Mac had shared over the years which Mic knew next to nothing about. 

AJ pushed his concern for Mic from his mind and pressed Clay for more information, "What else do you have?  Any idea on their plans now that they're there?"

"AJ, I've told you everything I know," Clay insisted, forcing down the concern he felt for his friends, a concern that like AJ's was only mildly assuaged by the fact that Mac was with Harm.  "I honestly don't think that Rabb has a solid plan beyond going into Chechnya to find his brother.  The man's operating on autopilot.  Hell, he'd probably get himself killed if Mac weren't there to watch out for him."

AJ had to admit that Clay had a valid point.  After everything Harm had gone through trying to find his father, AJ knew that this had to be like history repeating itself to him, only this time he hoped to have more influence over the outcome.  He remembered the haunted look in the younger man's eyes when Harm and Mac had returned from Svischevo after finding that Harm's father was dead after all.  Despite his initial refusal to entertain Harm's ideas of going after Sergei, AJ didn't want to see that look again, which might happen if Harm couldn't or wasn't allowed to find his brother.  "Is there any way we can keep tabs on them," AJ asked, "short of going in after them ourselves?"

"Well, if I were to hazard a guess, I'd say they're going to approach Major Sokol for help." Clay replied, hoping that AJ wasn't seriously suggesting the possibility that they travel to Russia after Harm and Mac.  Ideas like that were hazardous to Clayton Webb's health.  "They're in Russia this time without sanction.  The last time, Harm was traveling with a Russian military officer under the guise of official business.  That made it easier for him to get into Chechnya, a lot easier than it would be for two Americans traveling alone, even if one of them does speak the language.  They're going to need some kind of help to get into Chechnya and Sokol's probably their best bet.  Either him or Captain Volkonov.  I don't think traveling in a taxi is going to cut it this time."

AJ considered for a moment as Mic jumped in, speaking for the first time since the call had started, trying not to think about how Mac had followed Harm into Chechnya during their last trip to Russia, "Can you convince Major Sokol or Captain Volkonov to keep us informed if they are contacted or better yet, get them to somehow stop Rabb and Sarah from going in Chechnya at all?"

"Mr. Brumby, hello," Clay said, giving no hint of surprise at Mic's presence, not that he really cared.  If Harm and Mac couldn't straighten out their personal lives, that was their problem.  "I'd say it's a safe bet that nothing is going to stop Rabb and Mackenzie from going into Chechnya, even if they have to go in on their own.  Rabb's not going to stop and Mac's not going to let him go in without her."  Clay didn't care how Mic might construe that last comment.  If the man didn't realize that there was a spark of something more than friendship between Harm and Mac, the man had to be either incredibly blind or naive.

As AJ glanced at Mic again, he marveled at how the man was managing to hold it together under the burden of the knowledge that his girlfriend had essentially run off with another man, even if the trip was purportedly under the guise of friendship.  Shaking his head at the complicated lives of his officers, AJ ordered, "Webb, do it.  Contact Major Sokol and Captain Volkonov.  If either of them hears from Rabb and Mackenzie, I want to know about it immediately.  I want to know where they are and what they are doing at all times, down to what they're having for breakfast."

Clay felt compelled by some quirk of his personality to make a token protest, even as he was already pulling up the contact information for Major Sokol on his computer.  This was AJ he was talking to after all and he couldn't seem too cooperative.  It was bad for his image.  "AJ .... " he began before being cut off. 

"I don't care, Webb," AJ retorted, "just get it done.  As soon as you know anything, I want to know it.  No matter what the time.  Understood?"  AJ hung up the phone before Clay had a chance to protest further.  He looked at Mic sympathetically.

"I'm sorry, Mic," he said, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose.  "I know it's not much to go on, but I'm sure they'll be fine. Mac's got a good head on her shoulders and will do her best to keep them out of trouble."  God knew Rabb wouldn't be thinking clearly in this situation, AJ thought.  AJ just hoped that he was correct that they would be fine. 

"What about someone following them to Russia?" Mic asked. 

"Like yourself?" AJ asked carefully.  "And then what?  Do you really think if you did find them that you'd be able to convince her to come home?"  AJ hated it, but he felt the question needed to be asked. 

Mic couldn't reply, knowing that in this particular battle, there was no way he'd come in any higher than second place to Harm.  His silence told AJ all he needed to know.  He felt for the man, but oddly AJ wondered if this entire situation might help resolve the tangled web of feelings between the three once and for all. 

"Mic, I'm sorry the news isn't better," AJ said sympathetically.  "I will keep have Webb to keep me informed and pass on anything that I learn if you'll make sure that Tiner has numbers where you can be reached."

"I'll make sure that he has them," Mic replied.  He took a deep breath, then asked somewhat hesitantly, "Sir, there is one more thing.  In her letter, Sarah .... well, she hinted that she might go as far as risking being declared UA or resigning her commission." 

AJ was surprised that Mac would have put that in her letter to Mic.  She must not have pulled any punches in that letter as she hadn't in the one she had left for AJ.  "And you'd like to know what I plan to do," he finished the thought.  "I can't answer that question at this point."  Which was the truth.  AJ had one officer who had turned in an official letter of resignation and another who had said point blank that if he felt compelled to do so, he should consider her letter to be one of resignation as well. AJ the friend was at war internally with Admiral Chegwidden the commanding officer and it was not a pleasant battle.

"I suppose I understand that, Sir," Mic replied, feeling conflicted.  On the one hand, he understood how much Mac loved her job and the Marine Corps.  On the other, Mic couldn't help thinking that if she did resign her commission, then she wouldn't be constantly going out of town or out of the country on investigations, leaving them more time to concentrate on their relationship, if they still had one when this was all over.  It might be a bit selfish on his part, but he was tired of competing with her job for her attention, among other things.  He just didn't want something like being declared UA to affect her future chances of perhaps getting a job at a civilian law firm. He stood and held out his hand to AJ.  "I appreciate your help, Sir," he said as AJ shook his hand.

"I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything," AJ promised. 

"Thank you, Sir," Mic said, resisting the urge honed by years in the military to come to attention and wait to be dismissed. 

As soon as Mic left, AJ leaned back in his chair and sighed, shaking his head.  He had the feeling that the fallout from all this was not going to be pretty, in more ways than one.

LUBYANKA PRISON
MOSCOW, RUSSIA

"No, that doesn't surprise me," Sokol said into the phone in English as an aide entered his office.  Sokol motioned to the man to wait.  "I've been keeping an eye on the situation down there and thought that this might be coming.  Yes, I understand and I'll do what I can.   No, I don't think there's any chance of that.  Yes, I'll keep you informed."  As he hung up the phone, he turned his attention to the aide.  "Yes?" he inquired in Russian.

"Major, you have visitors, a Harmon Rabb and Sarah Mackenzie," the aide replied, also in Russian. 

"Send them in," Sokol ordered as he came from behind his desk to greet Harm and Mac.  He gestured to two chairs situated in front of his desk.  "Please, have a seat," he said in English as he leaned against the front edge of his desk.  "I had a feeling that I'd be seeing you sooner or later.  In fact, I just got off the phone with Clayton Webb and he requested that I assist you as much as possible."

"Thank you," Mac replied while Harm stared at the window behind the desk, not really seeing beyond it.  "We appreciate any assistance you can give us."

Sokol picked up a folder on his desk.  "I had already heard about Sergei Zhukov's disappearance and took the liberty of gathering some information, assuming that you would eventually come searching for him."  Harm, his interest caught, started to reach for the folder, but Sokol passed it to Mac.

"It's in Russian," Mac told Harm once she'd opened the folder.  A frustrated Harm waited impatiently while she scanned the contents.  "It says that he was flying recon for troops being transported out of Chechnya after the military declared victory in the fighting a few weeks ago.   Just outside Urus-Martan south of Grozny,  Chechen rebels attacked the troop convoy with truck bombs and shot down two of the helos flying recon.  Two of the four men in the helos are known to have been killed, one is known to have been taken prisoner by the rebels and the fourth is believed to have escaped the rebels but is still missing."

"And the fourth would be my brother," Harm said, the first thing he'd said since entering the office.

"Yes," Sokol replied.  "It is suspected that he may try to reach Grozny and hook up with the Russian Army there, but there have been incidents of kamikaze bombings, such as the one on the troop convoy your brother was protecting, in and around the Grozny area plus a few bombings at the homes and offices of various public officials.  Grozny is not a safe place these days."

"Was it ever?" Mac muttered as she read through the rest of the information and glanced at the enclosed map.

"Depends on whose propoganda you're reading," Sokol replied dryly.

"So how do I get into Chechnya?" Harm asked.

"How do we get into Chechnya, you mean," Mac interjected. 

"Sarah, Rabb is right," Sokol tried to reason with her, even knowing that it would probably be futile.  "You shouldn't .... "

"Just tell us how to get into Chechnya," Mac insisted, shooting Harm and Sokol both a look that dared them to argue with her.  Harm briefly considered taking on the challenge, but decided not to do so in front of Sokol.

Sokol picked up another folder and handed it to Harm this time.  "I took the liberty of preparing documents for both of you," he explained as Harm looked through the papers, Mac leaning over as far as she could to see.  "Your cover is that of human rights observers who have been granted limited access to observe the withdrawal of Russian troops and the resettlement of refugees from Ingushetia."

"What about Russian guards?" Mac asked.  "I can hardly imagine that human rights observers would just be allowed to wander Chechnya alone given the Russian government's reluctance to cooperate with humans rights groups in the past."

"That's not a view I would openly discuss once you leave this room," Sokol warned them.  "Officially, you will be escorted by a Russian Army officer whose 'job' it is to make sure you see what the Russian government wants you to see.  Unofficially .... "  He walked over to the door and opened it, motioning someone in.  Harm and Mac were only mildly surprised to see Captain Volkonov.

"Unofficially," he continued, "I personally selected the officer who is to accompany you.  Are either of you carrying anything identifying you as members of the American military?"

"No," they both replied.

"Since we're here unofficially," Mac explained, repeating the suggestion Clay had made, "it was suggested to leave our ID cards and dog tags behind and travel on tourist instead of military passports." 

"Good," Sokol proclaimed.  "The Chechens believe that most of the West has turned a blind eye to what has been going on there and a couple of American military hostages would probably draw the kind of international attention they would like." 

"What about American human rights observers?" Mac asked. 

"Oh, the Chechens love the human rights people," Sokol replied, "if they get a chance to talk to them and tell their 'stories'.  It's the closest thing to a safe disguise you'll find.  Captain Volkonov will be traveling in civilian guise as well.  It will make him a little less of a target than someone traveling in the uniform of the Russian Army.  Now, the next flight to Chechnya will not be leaving until morning, so I've taken the liberty of having my aide arrange hotel accomodations for you.  Alexei will take to the hotel when you leave here.  Any questions?"

"Where exactly will we be landing in Chechnya?" Harm asked. 

"The plane will take you to Grozny, since that is where we suspect your brother will be heading," Sokol informed them.  "There you will be met by a local government official who will provide you with a civilian vehicle.  Any further information we discover on your brother's whereabouts will be passed to this same official in a confidential packet to be relayed to Captain Volkonov through military channels for you to follow up on."

Thank you for the help," Mac said as she and Harm both stood to leave. 

Sokol walked over to her and kissed both her cheeks.  "Bud' zdorov," he said, repeating his admonish from a few years earlier to be safe.  He nodded towards Harm.  "Commander, I do hope you find your brother." 

"Thank you," Harm said even though it pained him to be grateful to Sokol. But he had to admit that the man had come through for them so far. 

HOTEL POSOLSKAYA
MOSCOW, RUSSIA

Mac noted with detached interest that the hotel Alexei took them to was the same one they had stayed in during their first trip to Russia.  At any other time, the thought might have brought back pleasant memories.  Now, it was only a reminder of what wasn't anymore.  But Mac had a bigger concern than memories of their previous trip to Russia.  She had to find some way for her and Harm to end up sharing a room.  She had the feeling that if separated from her, Harm wouldn't hesitate to take off for Chechnya without her. 

Not surprisingly, that's exactly what Harm was thinking.  Captain Volkonov had left them at Lubyanka with a promise to meet them at the hotel at seven in the morning and with a phone number where he could be reached in case they needed anything before then or wanted to meet for dinner.  Harm figured that as soon as they were settled in their rooms, he would slip out and call Volkonov to arrange an earlier meeting time, leaving Mac behind. 

As they approached the front desk, Mac breathed a sigh of relief that, according to her name tag, English was not one of the languages that the desk clerk spoke.  That would definitely make it simple to change their reservations.  "Hello, reservations for Rabb and Mackenzie," she said in Russian, both of them handing over their passports.  Smiling to herself, she added, "We'd like to change our reservation to a single room." 

"Not a problem," the clerk replied as she pulled up the reservation.  As she checked them in, Mac struck up a conversation with the woman, inquiring about the weather forecast and local attractions.  Later, she could pretend to Harm that the conversation had been about the 'messed up' reservations. As the clerk went to get their key, Mac turned to Harm, affecting a frustrated sigh.

"We've got a problem," she said, giving her words a slightly angry edge. "Sokol's aide apparently forgot to inform Sokol that he was only able to get a reservation for one room.  We’re going to have to share again." 

Harm shot her an angry glare, but didn't say anything.  Mac added for affect, "I don't like it any more than you do, but they don't have any rooms available.  I guess this hotel one of the more popular ones, especially for foreign travelers." 

Harm was frustrated, but it never occurred to him not to take Mac at her word.  Instead, he was imagining his plan to get away from her going down the drain.  As light a sleeper as Mac was, it would be very difficult for him to slip out without her knowing about it.  He'd have to think about another plan to become separated from her before morning.  He considered the problem as he followed Mac up to their room.

As they entered their room, another problem presented itself.  There were a couple of notable absences among the furniture in the room – namely, the two chairs that should have been at the table by the window, leaving the only possible sleeping places as the bed or the floor.

"I'll sleep on the floor," Harm insisted, an angry edge to his voice at the messed up reservations and the lack of chairs in the room that he could use as a sleeping place in a pinch. 

"No need," Mac retorted, frustrated with his attitude continually oscillating between being angry at her and ignoring her.  Maybe this sharing a room wasn't such a good idea, she thought.  Then again, maybe the close quarters would force them to confront the issues between them.  "The bed is big enough for both of us if we stick close to the edges."

She bent over and unzipped her bag, giving Harm a nice view of her backside, which he didn't quite succeed in ignoring.  Straightening up with a pair of sweats in her hands, she added, "I'm going to change, then take a nap."  She entered the bathroom, forcefully closing the door behind her. 

Harm had to admit that a nap wasn't a bad idea, despite the fact that he had no desire to share a bed with her, and pulled a pair of sweats out of his own bag.  He was just finishing changing as she came out of the bathroom. "What time did you want to go to dinner?" she asked as she climbed into the bed on the side closest to the door, concerned that if he claimed that side for himself, it might make it easier for him to try and get past her. 

"Hadn't thought about it," he replied shortly as he walked around the bed and climbed under the covers on the other side.   Both of them faced the edge of the bed, their backs to each other.  Before closing his eyes, Harm couldn't resist getting one last dig in.   "Planning to tell your fiancée about sharing a bed with another man?" he taunted her.

What has happened to you, Harm, she wondered as she sighed sadly, refusing to dignify his angry question with an answer.  Either he had been so good at ignoring her that he hadn't noticed that she wasn't wearing the ring or he had noticed and didn't care.  Mac didn't really care to contemplate the ramifications of either scenario.  As she closed her eyes, she couldn't prevent the single tear that slipped down her cheek.

Part 3