TITLE: This Can't Be Good-bye

AUTHOR: Clairisant

CLASSIFICATION: AJ/Mac

RATING: PG

FEEDBACK: Would love to hear both good and bad feedback but please try to be kind and constructive.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is an alternate ending to Hail and Farewell, the way I would like to have seen the story of AJ and Mac resolved! It is also the story that won best in category for Missing Scene the 2005 Chaz Awards.

CREDITS: A special thanks to my beta readers, Qupeydoll and Julie.

Chapter 1

He had watched for her arrival all evening and it was hard to hide the hurt he felt at her absence. Every time a door opened or someone came in from the restrooms his head would turn and his eyes would brighten with hope, only to be darkened seconds later when he realized it was not her. Finally dinner was over, speeches made, and awards given out, and still she had not come. When the band began to play and the people he considered both friends and family took to the dance floor, he stood silently alone watching. It was his retirement party and she hadn't come.

He was about to pick up his cover and quietly leave without saying good-bye to anyone or causing a stir, when out of the corner of his eye he spotted her. Turning from the table full of covers, he saw that she was talking to Harm. It figured! But, as if drawn by some unseen force, her eyes left Harm's and met his across the room. She gave Harm what appeared to be a strained smile and excused herself.

She started across the room towards him. He had plenty of time to leave if he had wanted, she was moving very slowly. She wasn't moving with her usual style, grace, or confidence. It was then he realized that she was moving carefully, as if she were trying not to hurt herself. Something was definitely wrong! This was not the kick ass Marine he had come to know…and, hell yes, to love…over the years. She was hurting and he intended to get to the bottom of this!

She walked right up to him without hesitation and said, "You weren't going to leave without dancing with me first, were you?"

For just a moment he stood there stunned, this was so unexpected. Here she was looking like she was in pain and now she was asking him to dance? When he found his voice, he replied, "Actually, I was going to slip out unnoticed so there was not a big to do about me leaving."

"Please dance with me before you go…" she requested almost in a whisper, holding out her hand to him.

The pull in her eyes was something that he couldn't resist, his hand was in hers and he was leading her onto the dance floor before he even realized that he had taken that first step. The music swirled around them, but neither could have told you what song was playing. They had eyes for no one or nothing but each other.

Almost involuntarily he spoke what was in his heart, "You came…I had thought you weren't…when you weren't at dinner…"

"Yes, I'm sorry I was late, but I had a medical procedure this afternoon and it took me longer to get ready than I thought it would."

"I thought that you looked like you were in pain! Should you even be here?"

"Probably not, I doubt that my doctor would consider this 'taking it easy'," she replied with a rueful grin.

"Then why did you come?"

"Because I couldn't let you go without saying good-bye!"

"Good-bye? You make it sound like you'll never see me again. I'm only going to be touring the ballparks for six months. I'll be back and I'll stay in touch," he told her.

"People always say that, but it never happens. Or you do for a while and then it tapers off to nothing," she sighed.

"I wouldn't let that happen."

"People say that too."

"Sarah, if you want me to stay in contact with you, nothing would keep me from doing that!" as he promised her that he saw her wince in pain again added, "You need to get home!"

"Yes, I guess I should, I'll just call a cab."

"You will not. I'll take you, is your car here?"

"No, I came in a cab, the doctor said no driving for a few days."

"Then lets go," he said sweeping her towards the door and when they got there, he scooped up his cover and just kept right on going outside to his Escalade.

She stood there staring at the passenger door, knowing that she would never be able to climb into the vehicle that was so high off the ground in her current state of pain. How could she tell him that she was that delicate? He saw her hesitate and realized what was going on, guiding her out of the way he opened the door and then swept her up in his arms and gently placed her into the passenger seat, he even reached around her and secured her seat belt before giving her a small smile and closing her door to walk around to the driver's side.

To be continued…