A/N: Well, this chapter took an unexpected twist. Yeah, Brumby NEVER wins in my stories. I couldn't stand the character and can't see making him look like a good guy. I'm convinced he would have turned violent had he and Mac married. Enough said.
Oh, and to my "guest" reviewer on the last chapter, I seem to recall it wasn't me who first mentioned piña coladas. LOL.
We Need to Talk
By the time Mac was able to break away from Harriet, who was gushing over the upcoming nuptials, Harm and Renee had left the conference room. Mac liked the junior officer and considered her a friend, but sometimes Harriet's enthusiasm was a bit too much. She had a million questions.
Have you set a date?
Big wedding or small?
Do you plan to stay here in Washington?
Mic was more than ready to supply the answers, even though he and Mac hadn't discussed any of those things.
We want to be married as soon as possible.
I want a big wedding, so that's what we'll have. I think Sarah is deserving of such.
Mac, on the other hand, wasn't ready to rush into anything. And a big wedding was the last thing she wanted. For all she cared, they could go to city hall and skip all the fanfare.
There was a time when she'd dreamed of a traditional wedding. She closed her eyes and envisioned herself walking down the aisle of a beautiful church, wearing a stunning wedding gown. The man of her dreams was waiting at the altar, wearing dress whites and—
Mac's eyes flew open when Mic took it upon himself to answer Harriet's question about where they planned to live.
"Australia's always been my home. I'm sure Sarah will come to love it there."
"Mic, we haven't talked about where we're going to live! I think it's a bit premature to be telling that to my friends."
Harriet's mouth dropped open, and Bud had his clueless "deer in the headlights" look.
"But, Sarah," Mic protested. "They're my friends too."
Clueless idiot. That's not even the point.
Mac turned to Harriet and Bud. "I have no intention of leaving the Marine Corps, JAG, or moving to Australia. If the two of you will excuse me, I have some things to take care of before I leave for the day."
Ignoring Mic, she whirled, stormed from the conference room, and went into her office, slamming the door behind her. Her actions raised the attention of several people in the bullpen, who stopped what they were doing to look.
Mac was breathing fire by the time she sat down at her desk. Mic had some nerve to answer for her on such important matters without first discussing them. Did he honestly think she would agree to leave behind her career and move to Australia? Or did he plan to push her into it?
She rubbed her temples, now fighting a full-blown headache. She thought back to the first time she'd met him. He'd flirted from the start. He wouldn't take no for an answer and kept being persistent. He'd practically forced her to take the ring back in Sydney.
Wear my ring.
I can't.
On your right hand. Until you decide. Then all you have to do is swap it over.
He'd been so sure of himself. Positive she would swap the ring. It took her a while, but when he threatened to return to Australia, she did. He'd made her feel guilty.
It's a really good opportunity, Sarah.
Is that what you want?
I want you.
You have me.
Do I? Sometimes I feel I moved 12,000 miles to be your Saturday night date.
You're more than that.
When I proposed to you, you put the ring on your right hand, said you needed time to think about it. It's been ten months.
She was jarred from her thoughts when Mic opened the door and barged into the office. "Sarah, what was that all about?"
"Do you know how to knock? What a closed door means?"
"I have a right to be here. What the idea of telling Bud and Harriet you have no intention of leaving JAG and moving to Australia. Don't I get a vote?"
"Mic, the office is not the right place for this discussion."
Ignoring her, he continued. "You had no business telling them that."
"And you had no business telling them that's what we were going to do. Talking about when and what type of wedding we would have was bad enough. To take for granted I would give up my career and move to Australia is pushing it too far."
"I reserved my commission to be with you. Why shouldn't I expect you to do the same for me?"
"I didn't ask you to do it. Never asked you to move here. You did that on your own accord."
"You didn't answer my question. Why can't you give up your career for me?"
"You honestly want to take me away from here? Away from my friends. My job. These people are the closest thing to family I have. Why would you want to take that away from me?"
"I'll be your family. You won't need anyone else."
"I can't believe your audacity. I warned you once never to assume. This time you've gone too far."
"But I'm your fiancé."
"Not anymore."
Mic raised his voice, drawing attention to several people in the bullpen. "What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?"
She twisted the ring off her finger. "It means the engagement is off. Now take your ring and get out of my office. Out of my life. And don't come back."
"Sarah, I won't be put off so easily."
Mac looked to see Gunny, as well as several others, including Bud and Harriet, looking toward her office. "Do you want me to call security and have you thrown out?"
"Is that a threat?"
"Consider it a promise." She nodded, ever so slightly, but Gunny caught her message. He motioned to a couple of security guards to follow him.
Victor entered the office with two marines behind him. "Is there a problem, ma'am?"
Mic whirled around. "You stay the hell out of this."
"Someone needs to escort him out of here," Mac said.
The two guards seized Mic by the arms.
"Damn it, Sarah. This isn't necessary."
About that time, Admiral Chegwidden walked into the bullpen. Hearing the commotion, he rushed to Mac's office. "What's going on here?"
"Diffusing a situation, Sir," Gunny replied.
"Mac, is everything okay?"
"It will be once they remove Mr. Brumby from the premises."
Mic struggled to extricate himself from the guards' hold. "Sarah, if you think I'll be put off this easily, you're mistaken. We will finish this discussion. This is NOT the end."
A. J. Chegwidden could be a formidable presence under any circumstance. But hearing Mic's threat toward Mac put him in full SEAL mode. He walked to where the two guards held the Aussie, then got in his face. "Get one thing straight. You so much as come near her, and you'll answer to me. Lay a hand on her, and you'll regret the day you were born. Do I make myself clear?"
"This is all unnecessary. It's only a misunderstanding on Sarah's part."
"DO. I. MAKE. MYSELF. CLEAR?"
Mic backed down. "Yes, sir."
A. J. looked at the guards. "Get him out of here. Gunny, inform security that Mr. Brumby is not to be allowed back on these premises."
"Yes, Sir."
Mac sank into her chair, trying to come to grips with what just transpired. How could she have been so blind? Why had she allowed Mic to manipulate her every step of the way? He was harsh. Demanding. Controlling. It would have only gotten worse. She should have seen it coming.
"Are you okay, Mac?" A. J. asked.
"Yeah, I will be. How could I have been so stupid?"
"You're not stupid, Mac. Brumby could be pretty persuasive."
"But I stopped being Mac the marine and become Sarah, his lapdog. Deep down, I think I always knew something was wrong. I just didn't want to see it."
"You saw it before it was too late. That's the important thing."
"Yeah, I guess so." Mac's eyes drifted toward Harm's darkened office.
"Mac. I don't know what happened between you and Rabb in Australia, but I sense something did. Now I make it a point not to interfere in the private lives of my officers unless it affects their work. But I can't help but believe I made a couple of mistakes with you and Commander Rabb."
She frowned. "How is that, Sir?"
"When you first met in the Rose Garden, I could see there was something between the two of you. As your commanding officer, I felt it was my duty to warn you not to become too close."
"But, Sir—"
A. J. held up his hand. "The next time was when we were boarding the plane in Sydney. You showed up with Brumby, wearing his ring. I told Rabb never to look back. I shouldn't have done that."
Mac was surprised at the admiral's openness. He'd always been a squared away officer.
"Why don't you secure early?"
"But, Sir."
"Yes, Rabb's already gone for the day. Talk to him, Colonel. I think it's long overdue."
"Thank you, Sir. I'll do that."
"Good. Now, get out of here. That's an order. Don't hesitate to call for help at the slightest hint of trouble from Brumby."
"I won't, Sir. Thank you for everything."
Mac drove toward Union Station. Even if the admiral hadn't encouraged her, she had already decided a conversation with Harm was needed. But by the time she reached his neighborhood, she began to wonder if she'd made a mistake in coming.
Harm had left early, so he probably wasn't home. Most likely had plans for the weekend with the video princess.
When she reached his apartment building, his Lexus was parked outside. No signs of Renee's car, but they could have ridden together. Before her resolve left, she entered the building and rode the elevator to the second floor.
She stood outside his door and heard the familiar sound of his guitar. Taking a deep breath, she knocked.
The music stopped. Twenty seconds later, the door opened. Harm had changed out of his uniform into jeans and a long-sleeved Henley shirt. He looked amazing.
"Mac? Is something wrong?"
"We need to talk."
