A/N: This chapter picks up on the conversation between Kate and Mac about Kate's weekend with Harm. However, the story takes a different turn from that point. I do mention the court-martial and Kate's involvement, but the focus won't be on that.

Not Yet

To say it had been an interesting few days at JAG would be an understatement. First, Caitlyn Pike showed up, then the new candidate for inspector general who happened to be friends with Admiral Chegwidden. To top it off, someone had leaked to the press that the man once sexually harassed Kate.

A knock came to her office door, and she looked up to see Kate standing there with two cups of coffee from Starbucks.

"Hey, thought you could use a break."

Mac smiled. The woman seemed nice enough. The fact that Kate and Harm once served together and likely shared more than a working relationship shouldn't bother her. After all, she was engaged. "That's nice of you. Why don't we go into the conference room? Less likely to be disturbed there.

"Sound good. I brought you a cappuccino. Harm said it's your favorite."

Kate and Harm have been talking about me? "Uh, thanks. A cappuccino sounds wonderful right now." She rose from her desk, then led them to the conference room.

"So tell me about yourself. How you came to be in the Navy." Mac asked once they were seated. If Kate did accept Admiral Chegwidden's offer, the two of them would be working together. Might as well try to be friendly.

"Graduated from the Academy then went to Harvard Law. Ended up at JAG."

"Harvard law? Impressive."

"What about you?"

"Duke University Law. I was already in the Marines. Went to law school on the recommendation of a former CO. I probably shouldn't ask this, but how are things going with you?"

Kate rolled her eyes. "Ugh! How the press gets an entire column out of 'no comment,' I'll never understand."

"At least they didn't run a photo of you in a bikini. That happened to me."

"It's the photos without the bikini I'm worried about."

Mac raised her eyebrows. "Are you always this open with strangers?"

"Only when I want that stranger to be open in return. The girlfriend. Thumbnail."

So that's it. She wants to know about the competition. What can I say about the bitch director from hell without sounding like I'm jealous? Woah! Wait. Me, jealous of Renee? I'm engaged.

Mac cleared her throat. "Oh, Renee is unique."

"Code for obnoxious?

"Harm likes her."

"Are they serious?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"He and I have a history. A weekend, actually."

They have slept together. I shouldn't ask, but I must know. "Really? What happened?"

"It ended there. At that time, I didn't want a long-term commitment, and I told him so. It was fun, but we both knew it was a mistake. How long did you two last?"

Mac, you work with the guy.

"Mac? Are you okay?" Kate asked.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Zoned out there for a minute. You were saying?"

"I asked how long it lasted between you and Harm."

"We never started."

"You had already found your man, huh?"

"Actually, Mic came later."

"I see. So, nothing happened before that?"

Mac shook her head. "It was the same story. Close working relationship."

"Probably best. We're lucky our fling didn't destroy our friendship. Probably would have if I hadn't requested a transfer out. Harm doesn't know I did, but it was awkward working together after that.

"I'm sure it was."

"You'd think I would have learned my lesson, but I got involved with a senior officer in Okinawa." Mac was about to respond when Tiner entered the conference room. "Sorry to interrupt Colonel, but the admiral wants to see you right away."

"Tell him I'll be right there. If you'll excuse me, Kate?"

"Of course."


Mac sat in her office, rubbing the bridge of her nose, attempting to thwart a threatening headache. This had been one of the strangest weeks since she'd come to JAG. The admiral had asked her to defend Admiral Hollenbeck, and she promptly requested to be removed from the case because of what Kate had disclosed to her.

Harm had tried to get out of prosecuting him to no avail. Kate was questioned about her affair with Dennis Brockman, and she later lashed out at Mac, accusing her of giving the information to the defense team.

You sold me out.

In what way?

How else would they have known about my affair in Okinawa?

Kate, I declined to defend Admiral Hollenbeck so I wouldn't be forced to use that information. Why would I slip it to someone else?

One less woman standing between you and what you want?

What do I want?

Harm.

You're really reaching.

There's something going on between you two.

I'm engaged.

To the man of your dreams?

Mac replayed the conversation in her mind. Mic was offering her everything she'd ever wanted. He would be a good husband. And he would also be a good provider. At least, once he found a job. He'd been hovering all week, grumbling about not being able to find a job, and hinting they could save money if he moved in with her.

It was too much too soon. Last night, he'd wanted to stay over, but she'd refused, saying she was tired and needed to sleep. Then she'd spent all night tossing and turning, trying to ignore the nagging feeling in her mind. When she finally drifted off close to daylight, she'd dreamed of the ferry ride in Sydney Harbor. Not when Mic asked her to marry him, but the one with Harm.

Mac, you work with the guy. You wouldn't go topless in front of me, would you?

Is that a request?

You know they wrote eternity on this bridge in lights on New Year's Eve.

Is that how long we're going to wait?

Mac.

We're not in Washington. We're not even on the same continent.

Location doesn't change who we are.

Most men would disagree with you.

I know. I disagree with me sometimes too.

But you still can't let go, can you?

Not yet.

You're just this way with me, aren't you?

Yeah. Only with you.

I suppose I should be flattered.

You should, Sarah.

He'd called her Sarah. Chris and Dalton had called her Sarah. What was so special about that? Mic called her Sarah. Harm had only called her that a couple of times, but when he did…

Mac felt her skin tingle. Okay, this is getting ridiculous. You're engaged.

To the man of your dreams?

Can't let go.

Not yet.

I didn't want a long-term commitment, and I told him so.

Not yet.

We're lucky our fling didn't destroy our friendship.

Not yet.

Realization hit her. It all made sense now. Kate's admission of their weekend fling. How it affected their working together. How it nearly destroyed their friendship.

What had she been thinking? Her words on the ferry in Sydney could have easily been interpreted as wanting only a fling. No wonder he'd turned her down. But still, he hadn't said, "no." He'd said, "not yet." Maybe he didn't misunderstand her. He had only been back at JAG for a couple of months. They were still trying to get their friendship back on track.

Not yet.

But what had she done? Went straight into another man's arms. Didn't have the guts to push him away. To tell him no. She had let Mic manipulate from the start.

"Sarah, luv." Mic stood in her doorway, wearing his usual cocky smile. He winked at her.

"Mic, what are you doing here?"

"The admiral invited me to a little office gathering to toast our engagement."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot."

"Sarah, how could you forget something as important as that?"

"It's been a rough week. I'm just tired."

"Not too tired, I hope. I've made reservations for tonight at Calisto's."

"Calisto's? Rather expensive. Especially since you've been complaining about saving money."

"Sarah. A dinner out won't break the bank. Besides, you've worn my ring over a week, and we still haven't gone out to celebrate." Mac looked up to see Harm headed for the conference room with Renee in tow. Figures the video princess would be here. She'd been hanging around a lot this past week. The last thing Mac wanted was to be forced into a conversation with her.

"Come on, luv. We'll be late for our own toast."


Mac was glad the little office celebration didn't last long. The admiral gave a quick toast, then left with Gunny. Kate stopped in to say her good-byes. Mac watched as Harm escorted her to the door as she stood talking with Mic and Renee. She wasn't sure what Kate had said to Harm, but when he turned toward her, the look in his eyes… She had to talk to him. Tonight.