A/N: Post SeasonTen, but Mattie is still in the picture and hasn't gone back to her father. The Admiral is still at JAG. Oh! And all the new junior attorney's aren't there, for the sake of my life they don't exist on the show.

A/N2: The chapter was to long so I cut it in half. But I didn't leave it at a cliffhanger, so don't worry. G


CHAPTER TWO: Present (Part One)

August 4th, 2004
2000 (8:00pm)
Mac's Apartment

Tonight was Mac's birthday and Harm was taking her out for diner. Mac was standing in front of her full length mirror when she heard the knock on her door. Taking a deep breath, and smoothing the front of her dress Mac moved to open the door.

"Your early flyboy," Mac said as she opened the door. But standing on the other side of the door wasn't Harm, but Webb.

"Hello Sarah," he said and walked past her into the apartment.

"What are you doing here Clay?" she asked turning to face him, but not closing the door.

"I came for you Sarah," he said facing her and trying to hug her.

"I told you that it was over Clay. Now leave," she could smell the whiskey on his breath.

"Now I don't believe that Sarah. I love you, and I think that we should be together," he said backing her into a corner.

"Clay I want you to leave now," pushing him off and away from her. But unfortunately Clay wasn't very stable and fell backwards.

Mac went over to him getting ready to help him up, but Clay had a different idea, and he pulled Mac down on top of him so that her face was next to his and before she could pull away he was kissing her.

And that is when Harm walked through the door.

"Mac?" he said not seeing them on the floor. "Mac are you okay?" he said slightly more worried, knowing that Mac would never leave her door open.

"Harm! What are you doing here?" yelled Clay from the floor. And that's when Mac stood up, and saw the look of hurt on Harm's face, before it clouded over into a protective shield, and that's when Clay also stood up.

"Harm," Mac started.

"No. No, Mac it's okay," Harm said defeated. "I understand." He turned to leave, but as soon as he reached the door he turned around and walked back into the apartment, and handed Mac then Red Roses that he had been carrying. "Happy Birthday Sarah. You look amazing," he said and kissed her on the cheek and then left. Closing the door behind him.

"It's your birthday?" asked Clay, and then he really looked at her. She was wearing a halter black dress that ended at her knees and matching shoes. It all clicked. "I messed up didn't I?" asked Clay.

"Yes Clay. You did," said Mac with tears in her eyes. "Please leave," she said turning away from him.

"I'm sorry Sarah," he said and then left her apartment,

Mac didn't waste anytime in grabbing her keys and running out the door. 'I hope he forgives me,' she though while putting her car into drive and speeding to Harm's apartment.

2147 (9:47pm)
Harm's Apartment

"Harm," yelled Mac knocking on his door. "Open up! Wee need to talk!"

Harm opened the door still wearing his jacket looking lost and confused. "What is it Mac? I thought that you and Clay would be out celebrating your birthday," he said totally without emotion letting her into the apartment.

"Harm. Webb and I aren't back together," she said looking him in the eye, knowing it was the only way that he would believe her. "He wanted to but-," she tried.

"It's alright Mac," he said cutting her off. "You don't need to explain it to me. Just give me a little more heads up next time okay?" he said turning away from her.

"Harm, Webb and I aren't back together," she tried again. "I told him no. I told him I didn't want to be with him."

"Your not with Webb?" he asked finally facing her.

"I'm not with Webb." His next move was unexpected. He took three strides to reach her and took her into an engulfing hug.

"Thank God," he muttered into her hair. "Thank God."

TBC in Part Two.