Tangled Up In You

Chapter Four

By LizD

Written Summer 2003

Spoilers – Through the End of Season 8

Tangled Up In You – 4 Alt

Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment

Late in the Evening on Thursday Night

"I don't want us to be this disconnected." Harm said.

"You don't always get what you want."

"But sometimes you get what you need – like a kick in the ass."

"Excuse me?"

"I was referring to me. Sarah, I don't what to be 'just friends'. . . . I don't love you like a 'friend'. . . . And I feel something other than 'friendly' toward you."

He reached out to caress her cheek. She looked up at him. His eyes were intent and sincere. He wanted her and not in a friendly way. He softly spoke her name. There was a brief pause as each summoned up the nerve to do what came next. They leaned in and kissed. It was a wonderful, soft, loving kiss between two people who truly cared for one another. It was real love. It ended with a very sweet embrace. Neither one of them had felt safer, warmer, more protected in their lives. It was like finally realizing that all the pieces of the puzzle were in place.

Mac tightened her hold on him. She felt the tears well up in her throat. Before she lost all power of speech, she whispered in his ear, "This isn't going to work."

He tightened his hold on her, "I know."

What did he know? Why won't it work? What 'this' is she referring to? Well the pieces were in place, but the picture was still unrecognizable.

For so long it had been about denying the feelings; about not actually saying the words; about keeping each other close but never crossing the line. There were stolen moments and long looks and daydreams that were never expected to come true. But now the feelings were acknowledged, the words were spoken; the line was crossed - for all intents and purposes. There was no denying that. The safety bubble that they had kept their relationship in was broken. Could they keep going in that direction? Could they follow through with was would normally happen next? It would have meant jeopardizing everything they had worked so hard for over the years, every thing they fought to protect. No. How could they possible risk that? The only thing to do, the wise and prudent thing to do, was to try to salvage what they could and put this day, their declarations and their feelings in perspective. It wasn't going to work.

Why? Why wouldn't it work? They came together in anger and the regrets would soon over take them. Just this morning he was willing to let her go. Let her be with Webb. Just this morning Mac was trying to convince herself that his presence in her life was not important. It wasn't what either of them wanted, but the fact that they were willing to settle for so much less meant something. It meant that they were not really ready to take the next step.

After a moment, he pulled back to look at her and drew a weak smile from somewhere inside of him. She wasn't crying, she was just incredibly sad. At least that is how she looked – incredibly sad. The only thing she saw in his eyes was her disappointment reflected back. She caressed his cheek and brushed his hair back. Her sad smile faded.

"You should go." She said.

"Yeah." He whispered but did not move. He was unwilling to let her go. She put her head against his shoulder and he pulled her closer.

It was an extraordinarily sad thing that two very smart people who loved each other couldn't figure out how to be together. But they couldn't. They knew it and they knew why. Neither one could let go. No amount of talking or arguing would change that. Harm was holding on like he always did. It was the only thing he knew. And Mac – well Mac was following his lead, like she always did with men. Tigers and stripes, leopards and spots, Harm and Mac. Giving up what they knew for something so unknowable was scary. And they were afraid. Afraid of what a deeper sexual relationship would mean, afraid of losing what they had, and afraid of losing themselves. With so much to win, there was too much to lose.

He moved to look at her, and she at him. He studied her face for a long time trying to read something in her that would tell him what to do. Was it there? She had asked him to leave, but did she really want him to go? Could he really leave?

Mac touched his cheek. What a gentle man. How could she not love him? How could she not desire to be with him in the most intimate way two people can be together? God knows it wasn't desire that was holding her back; it was her better judgment. She wasn't sure if what she was about to do was a mistake or fated, but she kissed him. It was a kiss full of passion, desire and complicated feelings. The kiss was returned ten fold.

"Stay." She said softly. "Stay with me for tonight. Just tonight."

Yes, he thought. They could have tonight. And tomorrow? They could go back to being friends.

His response was to wordlessly stand up and take her hand. She led him to the bedroom.

And there we left them. Left them to have their night. The one night they would allow for them selves to answer the question, to satisfy seven years of un-acted upon desire and to – for just a time – forget that the dawn will come; that the cold light of reality would intrude and prove yet again that they were not ready for anything more. They had the night.

Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment

Just Before Dawn

Harm had been watching Sarah sleep in his arms for the last hour. She looked so calm, so content, so relaxed. She was Sarah his lover, not Mac his friend, partner and some-time adversary. There were very few words spoken in that room, in direct contrast to the previous thirteen hours, which were full of so many words; words that could not be taken back, words that should have been said a long time ago, words that never should have been uttered aloud. It was time for him to leave. How were they going to face each other this morning? No, he needed to leave before she woke. The next time they saw each other, this night would not be talked about, discussed or acknowledged. It would be a secret they kept from everyone including them selves. It was the only way they could continue as they were, continue to work together, continue to maintain a friendship.

Mac pulled away from him in her sleep. This was his opportunity. Slowly and carefully he got up, dressed and slipped out into the living room. He got to the door and thought he should not leave without some acknowledgement of what happened between them last night. A note was too rude. To wake her to say good-bye was also wrong. What would he say? Thank you? I love you? I don't want this to ever end? I'm sorry? What? What could he possible say or do that could acknowledge how much she meant to him? How important last night was to him? What he could do was honor her wishes. She asked for one night and one night only. If he pushed any other agenda, it would be more than rude, it would be vulgar. His face washed with a deep sadness and disappointment. He hadn't agreed to one night, at least not verbally or even in his head. But he accepted her offer, and his silence was his agreement. He should have asked for more, but he didn't. He left.

Mac heard the door close. She had been awake. There was a part of her that wanted him to stay but the larger part was grateful that she did not have talk to him, or look in his eyes. The night had been perfect. And his leaving without some typical sentimental comment is exactly how it should be ended. It was too precious to ruin. They had six hours where nothing else in the world existed but each other. Six hours of no issues, no past and no future. His leaving without a word showed precisely how in sync they were. Finally, after seven years, their timing was right.

She felt the tears start to well up in her eyes. She forced them back, and got up to start her day. She had court and needed to be on top of her game. She showered, dressed and was the perfect little marine. She would attack the day and be all that she could be. She caught herself in the mirror. Who was that woman? Was that Colonel Mac MacKenzie? Or Sarah? He called her Sarah last night. She liked the sound of her name when he whispered it. She looked to the bed, picked up the pillow that was on his side and held it to her nose. She could still smell him. Emotions flooded from all sides, all she could do was force the tears back. She threw the pillow as hard as she could at the wall. It knocked over a lamp and disrupted a picture. She laughed at herself. Be careful what you wish for, Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie, for surely you will get it.

She quickly made the bed (hiding all evidence of the previous night), righted the picture and picked up the lamp. On the surface everything looked normal. On her way out she noticed something on the floor. It was Harm's watch. She picked it up and studied it for a moment. Did he forget it? Or did he leave it behind so he could come back? She stuffed it in her pocket and left. She had work to do.

Harm's Apartment

Later Afternoon

Harm had arrived home just as the dawn had broken. He had been working ever since. Working harder than he ever had. His apartment was nearly finished. Only a couple of boxes remained in the garage that needed to be unpacked. He was working on auto-pilot, his mind was a million miles away. He was convincing himself that he would do whatever she asked, anything to keep her in his life. If she wanted friends then friends it was. He would be the best damn friend she ever had. If they were never to have another opportunity like they had the night before, he could live with that. If he had to, he could live with that. He didn't know exactly how he could, be he would figure it out.

Never before had a woman so confused him. All the other women in his life were so easy, so predictable, so understandable. Diane wanted a career first which is why they hadn't get together before and wouldn't have lasted if they had. Annie wanted her husband back, and Harm could not be a ghost. Jordan just wanted his mind, not much when you consider what else he had to offer. But she did not know what to do with what he gave her. And Renee, well Renee was a special case. She pushed his limits, she crossed his boundaries, but in the end he did not open up to her because of her, it was in spite of her. It was Mac who he wanted to open up to, but back then there was Brumby. Back then! Back then is when he should have pursued her. Back then in Sydney harbor, back then when he went back to flying, back then when she quit JAG, back then when he took her flying in his SARAH. Back then is when he should have done something thing different from what he had.

"Only with you." The words he uttered on that damned boat in Sydney harbor. Why didn't she understand? Why couldn't she appreciate the "only with you" meant that he loved her as he had never loved another woman and it scared the hell out of him? Why couldn't she understand that "only with you" meant that if he felt less for her, he would have given her what she asked for? Why didn't she understand, that back there in Sydney harbor she was asking for too little? He wanted it all, or nothing. He was not ready for it all, but was totally unwilling to give just a little.

He was so lost in thought that he did not hear Webb come in.

"Rabb!" He yelled for the third time.

Harm came to his senses and was surprised to see Webb standing there. "Webb? What are you doing here?"

"I heard you were renovating?" He said surveying the work that was done. "Don't see anything different."

"There isn't."

"Well that is an idea, destroy everything and build it back exactly the way it was? Kind of like history repeating itself."

"What can I do for you Webb?"

"Aye, there is the rub. I am actually here to do something for you."

"Really?"

"Really."

"When have you ever done anything for me that was not in your own best interest?"

"There is a first for everything." He paused for a moment. "Thank you for saving my life."

"Your welcome – and it was in my own best interest to help."

"I know you didn't do it for me, but since I am walking and talking and taking solids, I will take the help wherever I could get it."

"Mac should never have been down there."

"I know that."

"You had no business taking her on such a dangerous mission."

"I know that too."

"You did it so that you could be close to her."

"Yes I did. It is not something I am proud of and hopefully I won't repeat."

"You won't, if I have anything to say about it."

"Funny, that is the other reason why I am here."

"Other reason?"

"Whether or not you have anything to say about it."

"I don't follow."

"You are in love with Mac." He laughed. "And sadly she is in love with you, or at least she thinks she is."

"What are you getting at?"

"Well, out of gratitude for you for saving my life and my respect for Mac, I am going to step aside – for now."

"Very magnanimous."

"But if you don't step up – you better step out of the way."

"Excuse me?"

"I will win her Harm."

"She is not a prize, Webb."

"I will win her and give her everything she wants or needs in life."

"If you think you can."

"I know I can. But I am going to give you one last opportunity."

"Thanks but no thanks. Mac and I are friends."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Her idea or yours?"

"Mutual."

"Then you are both fools."

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church Virginia

1900 EST

Mac was sitting in her office finishing some paper work from the case. She had won a resounding victory that day but did not feel like celebrating.

"Go home, Colonel." The admiral called from the doorway.

"Sir?"

"Go home. The paper work can wait."

"Yes sir." She started to pack up the paper work.

"Are you alright Colonel?"

"I am fine sir." She looked up at him quickly. "Why do you ask?"

"You just beat the pants off of Sturgis and you look like you just lost your best friend."

"No sir, I still have my best friend." He gave her a quizzical look. "I mean I wasn't aware that I looked like that. Nothing is wrong."

"I am going to dinner alone tonight. Meredith has some meeting or other. Would you like to join me?"

"Thank you sir, but I will take a pass this evening."

Sturgis knocked and entered. "May I interrupt?"

"Come in Commander. I am trying to convince Mac here to join me for dinner. How about we make it a celebration. Turner you're welcome."

"I lost sir."

"The justice was served. So what'll be commander?"

"Thank you sir, I would be happy to join you for dinner."

"Good. Mac?"

"Thank you sir. I don't feel much like eating. I am a little tired. Didn't get much sleep last night."

"Probably tossing and turning trying to figure out how to trounce me in court today." Turner offered. He knew that Harm had gone to see her and surmised that the conversation did not go well. He had not spoken to Harm that day, but the look in Mac's eyes was enough to let him gather that they had not resolved their issues. He would liked to have said he went easy on Mac in court knowing that she had a stressful evening the night before, but he didn't.

"Alright, Colonel. Another time."

"I would like that."

"Looks like it is you and me then Turner."

"Yes sir." The admiral left. Turner looked back at Mac. "Are you OK?"

"I am fine."

"OK." He nodded. "Strong work today."

"Thank you."

He left reluctantly.

Mac pulled Harm's watch out of her pocked. She would not go straight home.

2013 EST

North of Union Station

Harm had just finished. Well he finished about forty-five minutes ago but was surveying his work and organizing his clothes for Monday. He barely heard the knock on the door. He opened the door to Mac. She shocked him. He had been seeing her in his mind all day, but to see her at his door felt unreal.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Of course, please." He stepped back to let her in.

She came in and looked around. She was actually surprised that it was finished. "It looks --."

"Exactly the same, I know."

She looked back at him and held his gaze. "Well it was fine the way it was."

"Yes, yes it was. More than livable; more than tolerable."

"Sometimes there is no need to change things."

"Exactly. Leave well enough alone."

Without a word, she pulled his watch out of her pocket and placed it on the desk. He saw the move and was clear that he should not make any kind of remark about it. "How was court?"

She was wandering around the living area surveying the work. "I won. Well, as the admiral said, justice was served."

He watched her from the door. "I'll bet. Should have been there."

"Who? You?" She turned to look at him briefly.

"Yes. You have some very unique arguments and I appreciate that about you."

"You have never said that to me before."

"You know me Mac, why say anything if I don't have to."

"Right, less is less with you."

He smiled and laughed. "Ha Ha."

"Have you eaten?" She asked as she was inspecting the paint. "It is still wet over here."

"Yeah, I know. It'll be fine." He leaned against the closed door. "No, haven't eaten all day."

"I was going to head over to that little place around the corner. You know the one?"

"With the great desserts?"

"Yeah. I think I need to reward myself." She turned to look at him. The full length of the apartment was between them. "Would you like to join me?"

"Sure." He paused. "Let me call and see if we can get in." He picked up the phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. He picked up his watch to check the time and put it back down. "Hello, I would like to see if I can get a table for two. . . . Fifteen minutes? . . . TWO HOURS!" He looked over at Mac. "We can order delivery." She nodded. He turned back to the person on the phone and ordered two dinners and four desserts. He ordered for her what he knew she liked best. She was only slightly impressed that he remembered and surprisingly not annoyed at all at his presumption. He got off the phone. "It should be here in a half an hour."

"Good. I am pretty hungry."

"So tell me about the case."

They sat down and chatted like two old colleagues and friends discussing the case and reminiscing about cases in the past.

FADE to two hours later.

The dinners were eaten and the dirty plates left on the coffee table. They were each sampling the four desserts. Mac refused to try the praline pecan thing that he ordered.

"Come on, just take a bite. A small bite." He pushed the forkful up to her mouth and she reluctantly took it. It was gooey and some of the goo got on her lower lip. She was trying to lick it off.

"Good, messy, but not bad actually." She laughed.

He picked up a napkin and put it up to her mouth to wipe the rest away. She put her hand on his. The sensation of the touch shot through both of them like they had been struck by lightening. He pulled away first. He had promised himself that anything between them would be her call, but he had such a desire lay her down and love her til dawn. There was no way he would be able to resist for long and not at all if she were going to touch him.

"I should be going." She stood up.

"Sure. Thanks for coming by." He followed her to the door.

"Thanks for dinner."

"My pleasure."

"Should I stay and help you clean up?"

"I got it."

She opened the door and started to walk out into the hallway. He was going to follow right behind her, but she stopped and turned and he bumped into her. They were inches apart. Their eyes locked. She wanted him to kiss her; he knew it. He knew it as surely he knew his own name.

"Harm." Was that his name? He kissed her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him completely. There was no resistance.

Fade to several hours later.

Harm – in boxers only - was in the kitchen getting some water. Mac – in his shirt only - came in from the bedroom. He handed her the glass he had been drinking from. She took it.

"This isn't going to work." He said.

She looked over at him. "I know."

"Sarah, I can't pretend like I don't have the feelings I have for you – not anymore."

"I know."

"Not after last night. Not after tonight."

"I know."

"We can't go back to being just friends."

"I know."

"Would you stop agreeing with me, please?"

"But I do"

"That's a first."

"I agreed with you just a little while ago." She nodded toward the bedroom.

"Ha – yeah. It is that kind of agreement that makes me wonder what the hell was stopping us."

"Me too."

"So now what are we going to do?"

"I don't know."

He turned toward her and leaned on the counter. This had to be her idea. He didn't want to influence her decision, well as much as he could. Mac had to be the one to ask for what she wanted. "What do you need from me?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"What do you need from me? It's a simple question."

"Simple how? Need from you in what respect."

"In all respects." He paused and took a deep breath. "Sarah, I would tell you all the things I am thinking, feeling and hoping for if you asked me."

"You mean you actually know what you are thinking, feeling and hoping for?"

"No," he laughed. "But I would make up everything just to give you an answer."

"What do you think this means for us?"

"I don't know." He took a moment. "I know that I won't let you walk away from me again."

"I am not planning on walking away."

"Good." They were silent for a long time.

"Harm, I'm scared."

"I am too."

"Aren't you going to tell me that I have nothing to be afraid of?"

"Why would I say that?"

"To be the MAN. To be the strong one. To be the one who calms my fears."

"Sarah this is un-chartered territory for both of us. I won't lie to you."

"I guess brutal honesty is better than a platitude." She paused for a moment. "This is what I want. This is what I need from you." She paused again and Harm waited patiently. "As much as you can, as much as you feel comfortable with and a little bit more, I want you talk to me. To keep talking to me, like we are right now. Open and honest and real."

"Talk to you?"

"Yes, I want you to keep me in the loop of what is going on inside your head. Not every little detail, naturally, but as it concerns me and us."

"I am not very good with that. Tonight is an exception."

"I know."

"I have always been better talking to you than anyone else." He nodded. "But I suppose that since the relationship has changed you might naturally assume that that might change too. I might revert to old ways." He nodded. "Ok. I can do that. I can make an effort not to shut you out."

"Ok." She smiled and touched his cheek.

"That's it?"

"That's it for now." She looked up at him. "Can I reserve the right to answer that question again?"

He looked past her into the future. Their relationship had already undergone a material change, and needs would change as their relationship did. She asked for the future. She didn't need to say anything else. That was all that he needed to know. "Yes, yes you can." He kissed her tenderly and brushed aside a stray hair. With a nice smile, he said, "We let go Sarah."

She nodded. "Lost our lifeline, didn't we?"

"Yep."

"How do you feel?"

"Surprisingly not as terrified as I thought I would. But that may change with the light of day."

"What are the odds that tomorrow will take care of itself?" She asked.

"Slim to none. How do you feel?"

"I feel . . . actually pretty good. I don't usually ask for what I want but it feels right."

"It feels very right."

"You are not going argue that you directed me? That I am actually not asking at all."

"Nope, not now." He paused. "But don't worry if you ask for something that is too much or too little, I will have some direction then."

"I should hope so."

He smiled. "What are you going to ask for next?"

Her confident grin turned sly. "Take me to bed, Harm."

He could get used to this. He took her to bed.

Chesapeake Bay

Sunday Afternoon

It was a glorious day. It had been a glorious weekend. Harm and Mac were sailing. They had not been apart since Friday night. They had talked some but hadn't really resolved anything other than the fact that they were now, undeniably on their way to the next level of a relationship. Each was struggling with the idea that they wanted life to go on as normally as possible with this one exception. However the 'one exception' was a pretty big exception and would basically ruin all possibility for normalcy. Could they have it all? Should they ask for it? Working together is what they knew and what drove them. If one of them had to leave, if they had to spend their days apart and catch up like normal couples at the end of the day, it would feel wrong; totally and completely wrong.

Mac was at the bow with her face to the setting sun and the wind in her hair. Harm was at the helm. She turned to look at him. He looked happy. He looked really happy. She joined him.

"Hey." She said.

"Hey."

"Penny for your thoughts."

"Only you."

"Excuse me?"

"I was thinking of you."

"What were you thinking about me?"

"I was thinking how lucky I am to have you in my life."

"And what else?"

"Are you trawling for compliments?"

"Not at all, I am just wading through your bullshit until you get to what you were really thinking about."

"You think you know me so well."

"Better than you think I do."

"That is probably true." He paused for a moment. "I was thinking about tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." She sighed. "Tomorrow and the office."

"Yep."

"What are we going to do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I want it to be OK."

"Well, wishing won't make it so."

"Do you have a plan?"

"I have a lot of plans, but not about this. This is pretty cut and dry."

"Really?" She cocked her head. "What do you see as the 'cut and dry'?"

"We lie."

She nodded. "Or we tell the truth."

"Another way to go, but not the best of all possible worlds."

"You expect me to lie to our friends, to our commanding officer?"

"Just a lie of omission. Don't offer any information."

"Are you having second thoughts?"

"No."

"Are you embarrassed?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I am trying to make it so everybody wins."

"How do you figure that?"

"If we told everybody that we are now . . . what? Involved?"

"Together. They won't be surprised. In fact they would probably be relieved."

"But won't that put them in a odd position?"

"As opposed to the hell we have put them through for the last couple of years and particularly the last few months? They are our friends Harm, they care about us."

"And we care about them, but they don't need to know everything about us."

"No they don't."

"We played this whole thing out for them for years, I think it would be easier for them if they just carried on as they have been."

"We are the god parents to Bud and Harriet's son. Turner is a good friend to me and you have known him for years. I am not sure I could lie to them."

"For their own good?"

"Lying is not altruistic, it is selfish at best."

"Then call me selfish. I don't want what is happening between us to be water cooler fodder. I don't want eyes watching our every move and our relationship discussed over other people's dinner tables. It is none of their damn business."

"I think we are well past that. People have opinions about us and whether or not we should get together. Telling them or not telling them won't stop the discussion."

"Alright, I will grant you that. But I don't want them thinking they know us, and thinking they have a right to a piece of us just because they are interested or have an opinion. Let them get their own lives."

"You are not taking about Bud, Harriet, Sturgis or the admiral."

"No, but if we go back to work as a couple, it would be weird for everyone. I think that they would be more uncomfortable."

"I don't know. You may be right." She looked out over the water. "What do you suggest we do about the admiral?"

"Don't ask, don't tell."

"I disagree. I think if we don't say something, or let it be known, that it will blow up in our faces."

"He'll be forced to split us up." He made sure she heard and understood that. "It may not be in the UCMJ that officers shouldn't date when they are in the same command, but it certainly is an understood, unwritten policy. He will reassign us."

"But it will come out eventually and then our integrity will be called into question."

"Our integrity?"

"Yes, the appearance of impropriety is just as damning."

"We will do nothing wrong. We are doing nothing wrong."

"Those rules are in place to protect us as well as JAG. What if we are put on opposite sides of a case? Are we going to put a halt to all personal contact while the investigation and trial is going on?"

"We haven't in the past."

"In the past the prosecution was not sleeping with the defense."

"You make it sound so tawdry." He grinned.

"It is tawdry. Can you be truly objective with me as opposing council?"

"My only concern is going to be whether or not I can concentrate on the arguments that you are making rather than how you are filling out that uniform. Or how your eyes light up when you get . . . aroused."

"You see, that is exactly my point."

"Mac, I hate to burst your bubble, but I have been thinking that for years." She blushed. She had too. "No one has ever called me on it before, and I never lost a case because I was too distracted by your feminine wiles."

"It will be different now. Maybe not in our minds, but in everyone else's."

"So let's not let them know. Lie."

Mac was disappointed. She wanted it not to be a problem.

"It won't last."

"For as long as we want it to."

"They will be furious with us."

"Bud and Harriet will understand. Turner will disapprove, but he disapproves about everything."

"The admiral?"

"He'll probably ship us off to Alaska or to some tender off the coast of Greenland."

"This is not funny Harm."

"I am aware of exactly how serious this is."

"And you still think lying is the best option."

"I think a little misdirection and allowing people to draw their own conclusions is what is called for in this situation."

"Lying."

"What would you have me do, walk in there Monday morning and announce to the entire staff that I'm back and I am dogging the marine lawyer?"

She laughed. "I would not have phrased it quite like that."

"Mac, Sarah, this is the only way we are going to get to work together."

She nodded.

"You do still want to work together?"

"Yes, yes I do."

"Not too much Rabb in your diet?"

"No." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "OK, we will try it your way, for now. I want my objection on the record."

"Noted."

"Do you want to know something?"

"Anything you want to tell me."

"You are going to have a harder time staying away from me, and being 'in character' than I am."

"Really?"

"Really. I'll bet you can't go through a whole day."

"Are you saying that I am a bad actor?"

"No, I am saying that you will not be able to maintain a strictly professional demeanor around me for eight hours."

"We'll just see about that. I say it is you that will crack first."

"Is that a dare?"

"Just good observational skills."

"Well observe this." She kissed him and the sun set without them.

The Chesapeake Yacht Club

Harm and Mac entered the club to have dinner. It was a wonderful sunset cruise, but they didn't get to see much of the sun actually setting. They were led to a table in the back near the window looking out over the marina. Harm was being very attentive and Mac was acting like a new bride. They were holding hands, whispering and laughing. They were completely oblivious to their surroundings and the people that were coming and going.

At a table near the door, Lieutenant Commander Lauren Walsh was waiting for her dinner meeting. She took note of Harm and Mac. She recognized them but she couldn't place where she knew them. Her companion arrived.

"Secretary Sheffield." She stood to greet him.

"As you were. Good evening, Commander. Thank you for meeting me here."

They sat down.

"How is your father?"

"Very well sir."

"Good, good. I am glad to hear it. I have been reading over your file and you have some excellent reports in your short time."

"Thank you sir."

"To put your mind at ease, I would like to discuss a posting in my office."

"Yes sir."

"But let's enjoy our dinner first, and get down to it afterward."

"Fine sir."

They ordered dinner. Her eye kept wandering over to Harm and Mac. It was not that they were making a scene, but she was bothered by the fact that she could not place them. The dinner wore on and the conversation was light and uninteresting. Walsh was a woman on her way up and she was not too proud to use her father's connections to make that happen. Her father and the SecNav went to school together. She was hoping to be the SecNav's legal assistant, even with the lack of experience she had.

Toward the end of dinner the SecNav finally noticed that she was watching the couple in the back. He looked over at the table. He recognized Commander Rabb immediately, but Mac was turned away from him. He was about to get up and go say hello to the commander, when Mac turned around to speak with the waiter.

"Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie." He said to himself – he was disappointed. Commander Walsh heard him.

"Do you know them, sir?"

"Knew them is more like it. They used to be lawyers." He looked back at them. "Oh AJ – this is the one that is going to sink you. How could you let this happen?"

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing. I have changed my mind about that position I had for you. There is an opening at JAG." He looks back over at Harm and Mac. "In fact there will be two."