8:00 PM


Mac's apartment

Washington

Mac flung the dishtowel over her shoulder and went to answer the door. Someone knocked twice before she realized someone was knocking on the door. Her mind was on Gabe and his illness.

She opened the door and wasn't surprised to see Harm standing there. "Hi, Harm. Come on in." He walked in and turned around. "I thought you and Gabe weren't here."

"Who's here, Mac?" Gabe came jumping out of the bedroom. Oh, hi, Harm.

"Oh, hi, Harm." Harm grabbed the little boy and swung him up in his arms. He handed him a brown paper bag. "These are for you." Gabe opened the bag and stuck his face in.

"Popcorn." He looked up at Mac with a beaming face. "Can I have some now?"

"Just a little bit. We"re going to eat dinner soon."

"Okay." Harm put Gabe down. "Thanks, Harm."

"You're welcome, kiddo."

"Don't give Jingo any." Mac yelled at the boy as he ran into the bedroom. "I caught him trying to give Jingo some oatmeal this morning. Come on in and sit down."

They sat down on the couch and Harm started talking. "Mac, Bud and I talked to one of my sources and found out something I think you should hear from me."

"Gabe has AIDS, Harm." Mac spit out. The news should have shocked Harm, but it didn't. With what Tugboat told them earlier that day, it didn't shock Harm at all.

"Does he know?"

Mac bit her lip and shook her head. "We told him already."

"How's he doing with the news?"

"We read pamphlets and talked about it when we got home. He knows what it is and how he got it."

Harm hung his head. "Poor little guy."

"Yeah."

Gabe came out of the bedroom with the bag. "I'm hungry."

"Dinner's almost ready." Mac perked up. "Go wash up and leave me the bag." Gabe laid the bag on the coffee table and ran back into the bedroom. "Do you want to stay for dinner?" She asked him after Gabe disappeared.

Harm sniffed in the air. "Pot roast."

"Yes. Oh, I forgot you're a vegan."

"What's a ve--?" Gabe asked when he came out.

"A vegan, sweetheart." Gabe went over and sat on Mac's lap. "Vegan is short for vegetarian. It's someone who only eats vegetables."

"Yuck!" Gabe made a funny face that made both of them laugh.

"I have to get back. I've got some paperwork to go over." He got up and Mac walked him to the door. "Night, Gabe."

"Night, Harm."
 

"Thanks for coming over, Harm. I'm sorry I didn't let you finish what you were saying."


"It wasn't important. I'll see you next week."

3:00 PM
JAG Headquarters
Virginia

(Two months later)

Mac knocked and then walked in. She and Harm were in the custom when no one was in their offices to walk right in after knocking.

"Hey, how did the Shapiro hearing go?"

"He changed his plea to guilty so I finished up quite fast." He banged the file on the desk to prove his point. "So what can I do for you?"

"Do you like the circus?"

Harm opened his briefcase. "Do you mean do I like pink cotton candy, clowns that pour seltzer down each others pants and high wire acts?"

Mac repeated. "Do you like the circus?"

"Yeah."

"Would you like to come with Gabe and me? Harriet and Bud are coming too."

"Sure. Sounds like fun." He closed up his briefcase. The Admiral walked in after that and both stood to attention.

"At ease. Commander, I need to talk to you. Do you have a minute?"
 

"I was just leaving. I have a meeting with the social worker and then I'm going to pick up Gabe," Mac said. "I'll see you tonight, Harm. Admiral, would you like to join us at the circus tonight?"

The lines on the Admiral's face crinkled. "No, thank you, Colonel. I think I'll sit this one out tonight."

'Yes, sir. Bye, Harm."

"Bye." Mac walked out and closed the door.

Harm noted the concerned look on the Admiral's face. 'What's wrong, Admiral?"

'Webb called me from his car. He's on his way over. Are you busy?"
 

"Does this have to do with Gabe and Mac?"

The Admiral shook his head. Harm set down his briefcase. "Not anymore."

3:23 PM
JAG Headquarters
Virginia

Webb walked right in just like the Admiral knew he would.

"We've been waiting."

"I got held up in traffic. I'll get to the point." He tossed a picture on the desk. "That is Grey Hutchinson. He's a drug pusher. Crack, Smack, "X", Ice and more: he's selling all these."

Harm picked up the picture. The black and white photograph showed a white man with a bushy black beard and black hair. Gabe's description.

"Where is he?" Harm asked.

Webb smiled at Harm. "I don't know, Harm. I didn't sit down and have coffee with the assassin. That's what you do," Webb said.

"That's enough both of you." The Admiral picked up the picture. "Tonight we'll move both of them to a safe house. Webb, set it up."

"I've already got one checked out and Marshal's ready."

The circus. "Sir, Mac had this trip to the circus planned for Gabe."

"Cancel it." Webb said quickly.

"No." Both men said in unison.
 

"Why not? It's a circus. He'll be able to go to the circus until he's an old man."

Harm glanced up at the Admiral for his word. "They'll go to the circus and then we'll take them to the safe house."

"Fine." Webb walked out.

"Thank you, Admiral."

The Admiral exhaled and sat down. "Leave, Commander. I have work to do."

"Yes, sir."

6:00 PM
Mac's apartment
Washington

Mac looked over the group to make sure they had everybody. Harm arrived an hour earlier than planned. AJ was holding onto Gabe's hand. In the two months Gabe had been living with Mac, AJ stuck to the boy like glue whenever they were around each other.

"I guess we're ready to go," Mac said.
 

"Yeah." AJ hollered.

"Okay." Mac swung open the door and saw the Admiral standing in the doorway. She stepped back in amazement. "Sir, you decided to come after all."

"I decided it would be fun after all." He picked up AJ in his arms. "Are we ready to go?"

"Yeah. "cus." AJ hollered again and everyone followed the Admiral out. Mac held the door for everyone and when Harm went through she saw the gun he was trying to hide in his pants.

"Are you planning on a killing a clown, Harm?" She joked.

"Huh." Harm turned around. "Oh, the gun. I picked it up by accident."

"Is there something going on, Harm. Bud's tense, the Admiral doesn't even like the circus and you showed up an hour earlier than planned. What's going on?"

Harm took the door handle from her and pushed her out. "Nothing."

He closed the door behind them.

8:00 PM
George Washington Park
Washington

"Did you have a great time, Gabe?" Mac asked as they all walked to their cars.

"Yes. Especially when that clown sprayed water all over the Admiral."

Harm and Bud were behind the others and started to laugh. "Yeah, that was funny." The Admiral shot them dirty looks and both of them straightened up.

"I'm glad you had fun, Gabe," Harriet said. Suddenly, Gabe's smile turned to a frown. Mac saw it and leaned down. "What's wrong, honey?"

"I know why you took me to the circus, Mac. You wanted me to have fun before I died."

Mac heard Harriet gasp behind her. "Who told you that, Gabe?" Harm asked.
 

"I heard my teacher talking to the school nurse. She said that she knew a kid just like me with AIDS and he died. I'm going to die, Mac."

Mac looked up at Harm, but he offered no solution to the problematic question so she looked back to Gabe. She swallowed a lump in her throat before saying. "Gabe, people with AIDS can live a long time if they take care of themselves and don't get really sick. You're going to be fine." Mac pulled Gabe close to her and held him. The others stared at her and a big piece of her heart wanted everything she just said to be true.

"Sorry to break this up, but its time," Webb said. He came out from behind some cars.

"Time for what?"

"I'll take Gabe and we'll put AJ in the car. Come on, Gabe." Harriet took Gabe's hand and led them both to the mini-van.

Mac rose up and swiped her nose with the back of her hand. "What's going on, Webb? Why are you here?"

"We don't have time for small talk. The guy that Gabe described to a sketch artist knows about Gabe. My men and I were followed. I think we lost them."

A shot rang out. All of them ducked behind Harm's SUV.

"You think, Webb." AJ blasted out.

Webb pulled out a gun and a walkie-talkie. "This is Webb." Webb yelled into the walkie. "Bring in the van." Four seconds later, a black van pulled up in between Harriet's mini-van and Harm's SUV. Both sides opened up and Webb shoved Mac in. She could hear Gabe's yelling from the other side and she grabbed onto him when he was being pulled in. They were both smashed to the bottom of the van by a heavy weight.

Loud pings resounded throughout the van. Mac could feel Gabe shaking underneath her. This isn't what he needed.
 

"What's going on, Mac?"

"I don't know, honey. Just hold on."

"Everything's going to be fine, Gabe." Harm's voice. Mac didn't dare look up.

"What are you doing in here, Harm?"

"You think I would let you have all the fun. Hang on. We're turning." Harm was right. The turn was sharp and Mac held Gabe underneath her as they rolled between the front seats and the middle seat of the van.

Finally, they drove onto a straight stretch of road and after ten minutes, Mac felt Gabe asleep underneath her. Webb was murmuring something to the guy in the driver's side.

Mac pushed herself up and sat by Harm, trying not to disturb the sleeping Gabe.
 

'Where are we?" She asked.

"We're on our way to a safe house?"

"What about the others?"

"They were picked up in another van and taken somewhere safe until this all blows over. Don't worry. They're all okay. Harm, you shouldn't have jumped in. This wasn't how my plan was supposed to go."


"Webb, when have Mac and I ever followed your plans?"


Webb smiled. "You've got a point." He looked down at Gabe. "How is he?"


"Gabe's as resilient as they come. He'll be fine. Just get us to that safe house."


"You've got it."

Mac woke up when they stopped. She had been resting on Harm's shoulder. She raised her head and saw Harm holding Gabe in his lap.

"He woke up." Harm explained to her.

"Where are we?"

Webb opened the van. A blast of cold air hit them. When Harm got out with Gabe in his arms, Mac put her coat over him.


"This is where you'll be staying until Hutchison is found." Mac looked over the small house. The inside was even smaller.


"Where do you want me to put him?" Harm asked Mac.


"In a bedroom." Webb pointed one out and Harm came back after a few minutes. "He's still asleep."


"Good."


"There will be two men posted outside in an unmarked car. They'll be just behind those trees. He pointed out the grove of trees at the bottom of the driveway. He handed her a tiny black box.


"Only for emergencies. Press the red button and the receiver will beep. I'll"


Harm grabbed it. "I'll have the receiver." Webb gave him a dirty look. "Sorry, Webb, but Mac is my partner. I'll keep the receiver.'


"Fine. If anything seems squirrelly just press the button and the agents outside will be in here in a matter of seconds and Harm and I can be here in less than fifteen minutes. There's an abandoned house about ten miles away from here. We'll be there. Come on, Harm." Webb walked out.


"Did he say squirrelly?" A shocked Harm asked.


"I think." Mac walked him to the door.


"Do you want me to stay?" Harm asked. Mac saw the concern in his eyes.


"No. We'll be fine."


"Remember." He held up the black box.


Mac grinned. "I do." She took his hand and squeezed it.


"Be careful, ninja girl."


"I always am."


Mac shut the door and locked it behind her. She flicked the lights once to let them know she was safe and then she went back to the bedroom to watch Gabe sleep.


1:00 AM
Safe house
Virginia

Mac suddenly woke up to someone patting her on the arm. She smiled when she opened her eyes and saw Gabe smiling back at her.

"What's wrong, angel?"


"I'm hungry."


Mac pulled her arm up to her face to see her watch. It was one in the morning. "Can you wait a couple hours for breakfast, Gabe."


The brown haired boy shook his head. "Nope. I'm really hungry. I want some eggs."


Mac pushed back the covers. "Hop on." Gabe hopped on her back and she walked them both into the kitchen. She set Gabe on the counter and went to the refrigerator. Webb had supplied the kitchen with the necessities; including eggs.


"Okay, scrambled eggs coming up." She turned on the eye and put some butter in the skillet.


It sizzled loudly as Mac whipped the eggs in a cup. Suddenly, a man appeared behind Gabe. All Mac could see of him was a suit. She suspected it was one of the Agents.


"I was just fixing him something to eat. I hope we didn't cause any problems outside."


The man shook his head.


"Since you're here would you and your partner like some breakfast?"


"I'll turn on the lights," Gabe said. He slid off the counter and shoved the light switch on.


"Mac, it's him!" Gabe screeched.


Mac didn't even think. "Gabe, run!" She shoved Gabe toward the side door and picked up the hot skillet. She tossed the skillet at the man and heard him scream in pain as she ran out the door.


Gabe's red shirt was hard to see in the darkness and in one moment Mac wondered why she didn't tell him to wear the orange one to the circus.


Because you didn't think you'd be running from a drug lord who wants to kill you. She followed Gabe into the woods and caught a hold of him as they neared a huge tree trunk. She pulled him behind the trunk and held him close.


"Are you all right?" She asked, panting.


"Yeah. Are you okay?"


"Fine." She placed a kiss on top of his head and took out the beeper. "Harm, don't be asleep on me now." She pressed the red button.


1:25 AM
Fifteen miles from Safe House
 

Harm was on the last chapter of a book he picked up when they had gotten into the house. He wasn't even thinking about going to sleep. If the beeper went off, he wanted to be awake and alert.

The beeper went off.

Harm dropped the book and swung open the door. "Mac's in trouble."

Webb grabbed his gun and coat. "Let's go!"


1:30 AM
Safe House

Mac could feel Gabe trembling through his clothes. She wasn't exactly solid herself.

"When's Harm coming?" Gabe whined.


Mac held him closer. "I don't know, sweetie, but we can't stay here." Through the trees, Mac could see the car. The car had two agents in it, probably dead, but they had guns. She needed a gun.


"Okay, Gabe." Mac turned him around so she could talk to him face to face. "There's a car at the end of the street. I need to get to that car so I can get the gun."


"What can I do?"


"I want you to run for the house as quick as you can and hide." She clipped the beeper onto his shirt. "I want you to use this beeper if someone comes into the house other than me, okay?"


"Mac, I'm scared."


"I know, sweetie, I am too, but we're going to be fine. Harm's going to come and help us, okay?"


He shook his head.


"Good. I love you, Gabe."


"I love you too---mommy."


Mac's heart jumped into her throat. "When I say three, start running."


Gabe shook his head.


Mac pressed her lips to his forehead. "Good boy. On my count. Ready, Gabe. One-two-three."


They shot out of the woods. Mac watched Gabe run for the house. Before, she could get to the car; she was knocked to the ground and turned around.


It was Hutchison. He wrapped his hands around her throat and started to squeeze. Mac struggled, but her limbs were starting to go limp and her eyesight was starting to dim. She was dying. She knew it from the last time she had been strangled.


At least Gabe can't see this. She closed her eyes and readied herself to die when she a heavy weight fell on her.


Her eyes jerked open and she was facing Harm.


"Get-him-off-me." Mac gasped.


"My pleasure." Harm rolled an unconscious Hutchison off of her and helped her to her feet.


"Are you okay?"


"Yeah. Gabe?"


"He's fine." Webb came walking through the yard carrying Gabe. He was grinning from ear to ear.


"I did it, Mac!" The boy yelled as they neared her.


Harm's beeper went off. Harm grabbed it and turned it off. Mac took Gabe from Webb and squeezed him tight. They all started laughing.


3:56 PM
Mac's Apartment
Washington
(Three weeks later)
 

Mac, Harm and Gabe walked into Mac's apartment and all of them sat down.


"I did it," Gabe said proudly.


"Yes you did and that deserves a night out." Harm told him. "Go wash up and I'll take you and Mac to dinner."

"You're springing for dinner?" Mac asked in disbelief.


"Yes, don't act so shocked."


"I'm sorry, its just Harmon Rabb springing for dinner is like---is like."


"Is like what, Mac?"


She couldn't think of anything so she said, "You really never spring for dinner."


"I am this time. By the way, your answering machine's blinking."


"I'll get it later." Gabe came out in jeans a shirt and a smiling face. "I'm ready."


"Okay. Let's go." Mac grabbed her purse and opened the door to find the Admiral with his hand raised in knocking position.


"Admiral, we were just heading out to get something to eat. Gabe's testimony put away Hutchison."


"I heard." He held out his hand. "Good job, Gabe." Gabe gave him a high-five.


The Admiral came in followed by Gabe's social worker and another woman and man. They all stood in MacÕs living room.


Mac saw the uneasiness in the Admiral's face. "Gabe, why don't you go run Jingo water for a bath."


"Yes, ma'am. Come on, Jingo."


"What's wrong, Admiral?" Mac asked as she stared at the tall man and his blonde wife.


"Mac, this is Esther and Mike McKinley, Ted's brother.


"We're here for Gabriel," Mike said.


Harm reached out for Mac, but she was already slowly sitting on the couch. "You want Gabriel. Where have you been for the past two and a half months? Come to think of it where have you been for that past six years." Mac whispered harshly. "That little boy needed you."


Mike held his head up. Tears misted his eyes. "We left for Europe the day before Ted and Alice were killed. There wasn't any way we could be contacted. We just got back yesterday and heard about my brother."


Mac looked to the social worker. "So that's it. There home so Gabe has to leave."


She shook her head yes.


"That's ridiculous. I don't believe it."


The social worker stepped around AJ. "Mac, you knew we were looking."


"What about Gabe? He doesn't even know them."


"The last time we saw Gabe he was three years old."


"He's six now," Mac reminded them. "That was three years ago. A little boy meets a lot of people in three years."


"Mac, the paperwork's been completed. Gabe has to go live with his aunt and uncle in New York."


"New York!" She shouted. Harm shot her a look. "New York." She said quieter.


"Yes. I own a chain of restaurants in New York. Esther is a chef. There's a school near our townhouse and we have neighbors with children. Gabe will love it there."


"No." Mac shook her head. "No way. I'm not letting Gabe go anywhere."


"I'm going to go talk to Gabe." His social worker said.


"Excuse us a moment. Mac, may I talk to you." Harm pulled her into the kitchen.


"What?" She whispered as she jerked her arm out of Harm's grip.


"You can't keep Gabe from his family. There are laws."


"I don't care about laws."


Harm crossed his arms in front of him. "Mac, how can you say you don't care about laws and be a lawyer? That's hypocritical."


"The only person I care about right now is Gabe. Gabe's not leaving with them."


"Mac, you know that you can't adopt Gabe. They won't allow a single person to adopt a child especially if that single person is a Marine. Mac, you have to let Gabe go."


Mac was crying by now. "I can't, Harm."


"I know it's hard to let go, Mac, but you have to."


Mac looked up at him. "It's not that easy, Harm."


Harm took her in his arms and held her while she cried for a few minutes. The lump in his throat was also massive. He had become attached to Gabe in the two and a half months he lived with Mac. They had gone to movies together, the zoo, worked on homework together. Harm felt the connection too, but he couldn't imagine what it must be like for a woman who cared deeply for a child that wasn't even her own.


"You have to make it easy, Mac. You have to make it easy for Gabe."


Mac pulled away from him and dried her eyes with her palms. "Okay." She walked back into the living room with Harm hot on her trail.


Gabe was talking with Mike and Esther on the couch. To Mac, he seemed like he was getting along with them pretty well. That thought upset her.


Gabe saw her and ran to her. "My Aunt and Uncle are here from New York, Mac. They want us to go live with them. Isn't that great, Mac. We can live in New York and see the Statue of Liberty like Aunt Esther said."


"Honey," Mac leaned down and grabbed his upper arms. "Gabe, I can't come with you to New York. I have to live here where my job is. Your Aunt Esther and Uncle Mike want you to go and live with them. There's a school that you can go to and neighbors with kids. Won't that be great?" She tried to make it sound pleasant even though she ached inside.


Gabe puckered up.


"Hey, it's going to be okay. I hear they have a big toy store that you can go into and they can take you up into the Statue of Liberty and you can look out of her head."


"I'd like to go, but"


Mac rubbed his stomach. "But, what, angel?"


"I won't go if you don't want me to."


"Gabe." Mac took him in her arms and held him for a while. Then she let him go so she could look at him. I want you to go, Gabe. You've touched my life in so many ways, Gabe. You've made me laugh when I was sad and you showed me so many things through your eyes. I want you to go and give some of that to your Aunt Esther and Uncle Mike. I know that they love you very much and that they could probably use some of that laughter when they're sad."


"I'll miss you." A tear slid down his cheek.


"I'll miss you too, honey." They hugged. "Now I want you to go get your Rugrats bag and put your clothes in it.Ó


"Come on, Gabe. I'll help." The Admiral took his hand and they went into the bedroom.


Mac pushed herself up and walked into the kitchen. She came back with a small bag and a plastic cup. She handed the bag to Esther. "This is his medications. He needs to take his AZT tonight."


Esther shook her head and a loose tear fell to the floor. Mac handed her the plastic Rugrats cup. "This is his Rugrats cup. He drinks out of it every day so I have to wash it up all the time. He loves Rugrats, but I only let him watch about half an hour of TV before school and after until he has his homework done. I'm sure you've already talked to his teacher. He's a great student."


"We read every night." She told Mike. "Tonight's his turn to read me a story. His favorite book is Goodnight, Moon. He'll tell you that he can have chocolate pancakes for breakfast, but he can't. The first time I fed him a chocolate pancake he was hyperactive the whole day in school. He's been getting regular pancakes. He knows that he has AIDS. We talk about it and he has questions he asks me. He expects honest answers. He knows when I'm beating around the bush."


"I'm ready," Gabe said. He was dragging his Rugrats bag behind him.


"Good." Mac wiped another batch of tears from her face and picked him up. "I love you, angel."


"I love you too, Mac." Mac squeezed him like a ketchup bottle and he started fidgeting.


"We should go, Gabe."


"Okay. Bye, Harm." He stuck out his hand. Harm hesitated and then clapped his hand into Gabe's. "Goodbye, Gabe."


"Bye, Admiral."


"Bye, Gabe."


"Mac, would you tell Harriet and Bud goodbye. Tell AJ I'll send him something from that toy store you told me about."


Mac shook her head. This six year old boy was more like twenty-six.


"Gabe, let's go." Mike said sweetly.


"I'll walk you out." The Admiral followed the social worker out and closed the door.


Mac walked to the door and laid her hand on it as if she could feel him in the door. Then her throat closed up and she couldn't get a breath. She started wheezing and Harm was there to catch her when she almost fell.


"It's okay, Mac." He led her to the couch and sat beside her. He pushed back her hair.


"No, Harm, it's not."


"It will be okay, Mac." He tried to reassure her.


"No, Harm. It won't be all right because half of my heart just walked through that door and I may never see it again."