A/N: A short update. Will Mic finally get it through his thick skull that Mac doesn't want him? What will he do?
Drowning Sorrows
Sarah Mackenzie's Apartment
June 15, 2001
2220 Local
"Mic, what are you doing here? How dare you come barging into my bedroom."
"What the bloody hell is going on?"
"What does it look like?" Harm said.
"You son of a bitch. What are you doing here with my fiancée?"
Mac stepped between the two men. The last thing she wanted was for them to get in another fight. Especially since Harm wasn't exactly dressed for the occasion. "I am not your fiancée. You seem to have forgotten I threw the ring at you and told you it was over?"
"You were just upset, Luv. I know you didn't mean it."
"I meant every word I said. Now I suggest you get out of here before I call the police."
"You wouldn't do that."
"Want to bet?"
"But Sarah, you love me. I know you do."
"No, Mic. Think about it. Have I ever once said those words to you? I don't love you. Never have and never will. You took advantage of me when I was in a vulnerable state."
"I can make you happy, Sarah. I'm willing to overlook what's happened with you and Rabb. If you'll just give me a chance."
"You need to get it through your thick skull. It's over. I'm in love with Harm. Not you. I was only settling. I shouldn't have let things go as far as they did, and for that I'm sorry. But there can never be an us."
"But—"
"Go, Mic. Go back to Australia. There's no place for you in my life."
He opened his mouth, but Harm interjected, putting a protective arm around Mac. "I think you heard the lady. It's time for you to leave, Brumby."
With a look of resignation in his eyes, Mic turned and left.
McMurphy's Tavern
June 15, 2001
2330 Local
Mic Brumby was already on his third lager in less than an hour. As a rule, he limited the amount of alcohol he consumed, even though he could tolerate it well. Tonight he didn't care. He planned to get rip-roaring drunk. He drained what was left in the glass. "Bartender. Another one."
The bartender raised his eyes in question. "Are you sure?"
"Look, mate. I'm not drunk if that's what you're worried about."
The bartender shrugged. "All right. But if I think you've had enough, I'm shutting you off and calling a cab."
"I think that sounds fair enough. I'll be his designated driver."
Mic turned in surprise at the sound of a somewhat familiar voice. It was the same Lt. Commander he spoke with the previous evening.
"What's it to you, mate?"
"Hey. Just trying to help. You look like a man here to drown his sorrows."
"You can say that again." Mic shook his head. "You think you know someone. Damn Rabb for interfering. How could Sarah choose him over me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Sarah and I were supposed to be married. She postponed the wedding when Rabb's plane went down. After I learned from you that he was alive, I went to her apartment to patch things up and set a date. He was there."
"I've heard they're good friends."
"Oh, it's more than friendship, mate. You don't shower with your best friend. And Sarah told me she's in love with Harm. I always suspected it but kept hoping…" He continued to ramble.
"Sounds like you have good reason to get drunk."
"Yeah, mate. I'd love to punch Rabb's lights out. If I thought it would do any good, I would. But I don't think that would help me get my Sarah back. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad the man's not dead, but I wish he were out of Sarah's life.
Hughes shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe it will happen."