A/N: I had originally planned for this to be a one-shot fic, but the more I thought about it, the more I had to write on it. This is all Mac's POV. Yes, there is some H/M but most of the focus is on Mac's friendship with Ryleigh. The idea of Mac having a female friend is something the show never really went into and I think it's an interesting concept.

Feedback is always appreciated.

Thank God I'm back home. The past two weeks at work have been hell. Every time I see Harm I picture his wife's tear-stained face. I've tried to distance myself from him but it's a small office with few hiding places. Claiming exhaustion I was able to cancel last week's dinner. I won't be so lucky this Friday. We've all been invited to the SecNav's birthday party. Normally this is exactly the kind of event I love to miss, but Edward Devlin just so happens to be Harm's father-in-law. A small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as I remember the day Harm found out his girlfriend was the SecNav's daughter. I hadn't laughed that hard in years.

A quick check of my internal clock assures me that I have exactly forty- three minutes to get ready. I quickly strip out of my uniform and dash in the bathroom for a quick shower. Ten minutes later I stand in front of my closet contemplating my wardrobe. The invitation implied that this would be a formal event and Ryleigh hinted that she would like to see as few uniforms as possible. Damn. There goes an opportunity to ogle Harm in his dress whites.

Pushing aside my lusty thoughts, I close my eyes and grab the first dress my hand hits. I'm pleased with my choice. The burgundy chiffon dress has always been my favorite. The fit is flattering without being scandalous and I've been told that the color suits me perfectly. Makeup and jewelry are kept to a minimum. There's no one there I'm out to impress. The only man I'm interested in is married to the hostess of the party. Tears well up in my eyes at that oh-so depressing thought. I blink quickly to hold them back. There's no mascara in the world that's tear-proof. A quick check in the full-length mirror assures me that I look fine. I grab my small black purse and turn off the lights on my way out.

By the time I arrive at the Devlin estate, the party is in full swing. Curing the early evening traffic that held me up, I hand my keys to the valet and follow and exquisitely dressed couple through the house to the backyard. The expansive, perfectly manicured yard is extravagantly decorated. The small, twinkling strands of lights and the delicately scented centerpieces lend an air of elegance to what is essentially a high- class backyard barbeque.

As soon as I step under the brightly-lit canopy, Ryleigh pulls me in for a quick hug and thrusts a flute of bubbling liquid into my hand. "Great to see you Mac, you look amazing." It sounds as if she's already hit the champagne bottle pretty hard. A quick look into her bloodshot eyes with their dilated pupils confirms my suspicions. Before I can comment, she opens her mouth and continues. "You don't mind keeping Harm company do you? I've got a ton of things to do and who knows what kind of trouble he'll get into if no one's watching him." Her laugh is harsh and brittle.

What is she up to? She's obviously still upset over Harm's little name switch yet she wants me to keep him entertained. I want to say no. Me spending time with Harm is not in anyone's best interests. I should say no, but I'm not that strong anymore. Once upon a time I would have hidden behind my pride and refused but now I'll take any opportunity to be alone with him, no matter what the reason. I silently nod my head in acquiescence. She kisses me on the cheek and flits off to greet another group of guests.

"She's right, you know," Harm's deep tenor rumbles through me, setting the butterflies in my stomach aflutter. "You do look amazing."

I gulp and quickly guzzle the contents of my glass, for a moment not caring that the contents may have contained alcohol. I relax slightly upon realizing that it was only ginger ale. I eye Harm suspiciously for a moment. Is he flirting with me or is it just an innocent compliment. Deciding to play is cool I smile and tell him he looks handsome in his dark suit. Handsome doesn't even to describe how dashing and debonair he looks. I don't say this out loud. His ego definitely does not need any encouragement.

He takes my hand and tucks it into the crook of his elbow. Together we make the rounds greeting familiar faces and making new acquaintances. For a moment I let my mind wander and pretend that Harm and I are here as a couple, that the gorgeous man on my arm will take me home. All too soon the moment is broken when Ryleigh reappears, a glass of champagne in hand. She makes no move to reclaim her husband, choosing instead to hover just out of his reach.

"Dinner will be served in ten minutes. At that time we'll show the video. Harm, you don't mind making the announcement, do you? I can't find the microphone and my voice doesn't carry quite the way yours does," she inquires politely, speaking to Harm as if he were a stranger.

Harm agrees and whistles to get everyone's attention. Once the announcement is made, the crowd of people quickly makes their way to the rows of tables and there is some confusion as people try to find their place card. I am disappointed but not surprised to find that I am not seated with Harm. I take a quick peek at the card to my left and read the name. William Giles. No one I know. Moments later, a tall, leanly muscular man with short dark blonde curls and piercing blue eyes occupies that seat. I briefly wonder if this is Ryleigh's attempt at matchmaking.

Just as I gather up my courage to start a conversation with my neighbor, impeccably dressed waiters appear and begin serving dinner. The lights are turned off and my attention turns to the large projection screen behind the head table. Great. Now that they've got a captive audience they're going to show home movies. I roll my eyes and take a bite of the mouthwatering salad placed in front of me.

As the movie continues, another three courses are served. I'm shocked to admit that the video montage is actually quite interesting. The image of an athletic woman with short, spikey gold-streaked auburn hair catches my eye. Her hands are on her hips and she's defiantly glaring up at a much younger Edward Devlin.

The man sitting next to me must have heard my soft, almost inaudible gasp. He turns to me and smiles wistfully. "She looks bloody wonderful, doesn't she?"

"I-is that Ryleigh?" I stammer slightly, still staring at the screen though the image has changed to one of Edward and his wife Joyce celebrating their thirtieth wedding anniversary.

William quirks an eyebrow curiously. "I thought you were her best mate." When I don't respond, a frown replaces the smile and he slumps in the chair. "Course she wouldn't have told you lot about that. The whole bleedin' family's got her brainwashed again."

More interested in whatever he had to say than in the video, I encourage him to continue. Does my best friend have a secret life she's never told me about?

He weaves an enchanting tale of a criminology student with two-thirds of the world's intelligent agencies sniffing around her. Two weeks after graduation she accepted a position with a super-secret British government agency. William smiles bitterly and runs a hand through his hair. "Took her family seventeen months to pull enough strings to get her home. Gave her all kinds of grief about creating gossip and worrying her poor mum. They set up her up with a nice respectable position at the soddin' Academy and shoved Commander Cardboard down her throat. She's a fool if she thinks she's happy like this." He glances over to where Ryleigh is talking with several guests and shakes his head in disgust.

I put my hand on his arm to stop him before he can stand up and leave. "How do you know all this?" I've known Ryleigh for four years and she's never mentioned anything about working for British intelligence. I've told her most of my darkest secrets and until now had assumed she'd done the same.

"I was her partner." He shakes off my hand and stalks off in Ryleigh's direction. I watch with thinly veiled amusement as he insistently taps her on the shoulder. Her eyes widen with shock as she sees just who the intruder is. She quickly excuses herself from the group and pulls the man away. "Shade!" I hear her hiss impatiently.

"Something funny?"

Harm's voice and the hands on my shoulders startle me out of my reverie. My cheeks flush with embarrassment. I wonder if he knows about his wife's former occupations. Based on the snide remarks he still makes about Clayton Webb, I'd have to presume that he does not.

"Nothing. Just enjoying the party, that's all," I lie smoothly. I'm ashamed to learn that lying to Harm has become easier throughout the years. Part of the blame rests on his shoulders. If he weren't so quick to just accept everything I say without question things might be different.

"Good." He squeezes my shoulders and the two of us just bask in the comfortable silence for a moment. A voice from a few tables away calls Harm's name and he mumbles an apology before leaving. I rise and decide to take advantage of Harm's preoccupation to do a little snooping. I quietly make my way to where I last saw Ryleigh and William. Standing just out of eyesight, I crouch down and shamelessly eavesdrop on the conversation. It's for her benefit, I tell myself. How can I help her if I don't know what's going on?

"I can't believe you're not doing anything about this, pet," William's voice is concerned and reproachful. I shift slightly so that I can get a better view.

Ryleigh's eyes narrow and her lips purse. She crosses her arms over her chest and adopts a purely rebellious pose. This is new. Aside from the other night's breakdown, this is the first time I've ever seen her anything other than cool and composed. "Yeah, well, you don't know me anymore, do you, Shade?"

William reaches out a hand to touch her but pulls back before he makes contact. "You're right. The Ryla I knew never had a death wish."

This statement seems to hit the mark. Her shoulders droop in defeat and the glare softens. "What am I supposed to do? I'm not even sure I want to fight this."

He reaches forward and pulls her into a hug, gently caressing the back of her head while she silently sobs. "It's okay, pet. I know someone in England who can help. What do you say?"

She pulls back slightly and wipes at her eyes with a crisp white handkerchief. "I don't know. There's too much going on here. I can't just leave Harm..." I can hear the hope and doubts in her voice.

"That wanker doesn't deserve you. I'll be in town until the end of the week. You know how to get a hold of me." He presses a brotherly kiss on top of her head and quickly disappears.

I slowly stand and begin making my way back to the table. "You can come out of hiding now, Mac," Ryleigh's soft voice stops me. How did she know I was there? As if reading my thoughts, leans over the bush and smiles sheepishly. "Guess we need to have a talk, huh?"