Author's Notes: Just a little ff, it stands alone and is just a bit of entertainment. There's a lot of dialogue in Ch 1, I hope it flows.

I don't own JAG, I don't own the song either – but they're fun to play Enjoy!

Verese's Apartment

Friday 2013

Mac sat cross legged on the floor of Verese's apartment and was going through box after box of sheet music. She was looking, at Verese's request, for Moonlit Night but halfway through the third box she stopped.

Slowly, she pulled out a dog-eared paper and smoothed it out on the coffee table.

'Oh great, you've found it,' said Verese as she walked from the kitchen with two coffees.

'Ah, no sorry,' replied Mac. 'It's just the story of my life.'

Verese put down the coffees and picked up the sheet music. 'I love this song, Mac – haven't sung it in years though.'

Mac offered her a half hearted smile, she didn't need to hear it, she lived it.

'Harm, right?' asked Verese, dropping the paper back to the table.

'Yep,' Mac sighed.

'And nothing's happening now?'

'Now! Nothing's happened ever.'

'Never? Really?'

'Yep,' Mac said raising her eyebrows.

'Oh, Mac, I mean… I thought, well, I guess I assumed…Why not?' Verese stammered.

'Never the right time or place.'

'Have you two ever discussed it?'

'Sort of.'

'Sort of?'

'I let him know how I felt when we were in Sydney and…' Mac began.

'That long ago?'

'Yep, sad case isn't it? And he tried to say it in Paraguay.'

'But nothing?'

'Nope.'

'Mac, how long have you been in love with Harm?'

'I'm not…'

'Yes you are, how long?'

Mac sighed deeply. 'Maybe seven years, more or less.'

'Seven years?? And you've never…you've never taken things further than just friends?'

'Well…' Mac began and then just trailed off.

'You have? What?'

'We've kissed a few times.'

'That's a start,' Verese began. 'By kiss do you mean romantic or platonic?'

'Both I guess.'

'Details, Mac?'

'Well, Christmas, mistletoe…'

'A peck on the lips, as in obligatory ones?'

'Ah, not quite.'

'Good and when else?'

'My engagement party,' Mac said before she could stop herself, she had never told anyone else before.

'Your engagement?? To whom?'

'To Mic.'

'You're telling me that at a party to celebrate your engagement to another man you were romantically kissing Harm? Sarah MacKenzie, I'm shocked!' Verese drew a deep breath. 'You didn't marry Mic though, did you?'

'No.'

'Why not?'

'Mic knew I was in love with Harm.'

'And did Harm know you were in love with him?'

'Yeah, but he was busy with Renee.'

'Renee? Who's she?'

'Your usual blonde bimbo nightmare,' replied Mac.

'Miaow,' cried Verese. ''I take it you didn't like her?'

'Not a lot.'

'Why?'

'Oh, for many reasons.'

'But mainly that she was with Harm and you weren't, right?'

'Ah, yep.'

'So, tell me Mac, you are an intelligent woman, how have you let this situation happen?'

'Because I love Harm and he has his own issues with love and commitment. He is my best friend and I couldn't live without him. If I declared my love for him and he didn't reciprocate I'd lose him and I will not risk that, not now, not ever.'

Verese sighed and picked up the sheet music, her mind ticking over.

'Answer me Mac, do you honestly love Harm?'

'Yes.'

'I know what to do.'