A new chapter, finally. And the good news is that I have the next one, which will also be the last, already finished and at my beta. So you won't have to wait too long for it.

Hope you enjoy.

-Playing With The Boys-

We've driven the way back to the hotel in silence, both of us hanging onto our own thoughts. And only when we enter her room does Mac speak again.

"I think I'm going to take a bath to relax."

"Sure," I simply answer before I walk over to the window while Mac opens the bathroom door.

About half an hour later, I knock on the door and wait for an answer. But there is none. So I slowly press down the handle and open the door to see how Mac's doing. The moment it is open wide enough for me to see her, I'm immediately reminded of Ciudad del Este, the first and last time I've seen Mac in a tub. However, now it's a different picture that I see. Mac lies in the tub, all covered with bubbles, her head resting on the edge behind her and her eyes are closed. I can hear her breathe evenly. Maybe she's fallen asleep.

I softly say her name, "Mac", as I keep watching her across the small room from my place at the door.

Hearing her name, Mac turns her head slightly and opens her eyes.

"Hi, Harm," she smiles. But it's a tired smile.

"Are you tired?"

She nods, "a bit".

After a while that we kept just looking at each other, Mac asks, "What do you have there?" nodding her head in the direction of my hands.

I pull my eyes away from her and look down at my hands where I hold a cup of hot chocolate I've ordered from room service.

"I thought you might want something sweet," I say looking back up at her and meeting her eyes.

Her smile gets a little brighter and she starts to shift in the warm water, trying to sit up. I take the two steps to the tub, as said this is not a big room, and wait for her to get comfortable again.

Once she's all settled, more upright now, just so that I can see the tops of her breasts above the water, she reaches out her hand to receive the cup. For a brief moment our fingers touch and I can feel the usual electric charge shooting through my body. And from the look in her eyes, I guess that Mac can feel it too.

Then the contact of her fingers and the warmth of the cup are gone and all that remains is the gentle pricking.

Mac takes a first sip from the chocolate before she articulates a sighed "mmh" and closes her eyes.

"Thank you, Harm."

I just nod my head before I turn, with a last glance at her, to walk out of the room.

"Would you mind staying?" Mac's voice surprises me the moment my hand comes to rest on the handle and I'm about to pull the door shut behind me.

I turn back around and meet her eyes looking questioningly at me.

"If you want me to," I say.

Mac nods her head and responds, "I could use some company".

So instead of closing the door from the outside, I now do so while I'm still in the bathroom with her. I once again take the two steps to the tub. Looking around I search for a place I could settle down. In the end I choose the floor, with my back leaned against the tub and my legs stretched out in front of me.

The moment I settle down and relax, I start to feel tired as well. I didn't know that I was that exhausted. In fact I thought that I was doing alright, while I stared out of the window in Mac's room and waited for her to come back out. However, now that the moist warmth of the bathroom surrounds me I can feel fatigue rushing through my veins and I remember that I haven't slept much the night before. With a sigh I close my eyes and let my head fall back.

"Are you alright?" Mac's question gently hovers through the room before it meets my ears.

"Yes." And after a short pause I add, "I just realized how glad I am that we are here right now… together". My voice breaks with the last word, when suddenly all the fears I had these last hours when she was missing, once again come crushing down on me.

I swallow hard, trying to suppress them; they are no longer important. Mac is back with me I tell myself. And it helps. But only when I open my eyes and turn my head to look at her and the smile that dances on her lips and in her eyes am I truly convinced and the fears shrink to a small ball that settles somewhere in the depth of my guts to get enlarge again every other time, for I know that these fears never will completely disappear – I care too much for her, I love her too much for that to ever happen.

"So am I. This is exactly where I wanna be," Mac says in a whisper that sounds strong and firm nonetheless.

A grin spreads over my face and I can't help but make the next comment: "Where? In a tub in a hotel in Nevada."

I'm instantly rewarded with a grin and a splash of water that hits the side of my head and starts running down my neck.

"Hey," I protest.

With laughter in her voice Mac replies, "You begged for it, sailor", before she thrusts the now empty cup into my hand. "Here, make yourself useful."

Out of impulse I grab the cup with one hand, while the other reaches for her wrist and closes around it. I pull her hand closer towards me, forcing her to slip forward in the water as well. I bring her hand close enough to my lips to place a kiss on her knuckles. Once Mac feels the contact she stops struggling and her hand relaxes in my grip. I smile as I place more kisses on each of her knuckles. Meanwhile my eyes are fixed on her face and I can see her smile.

With a last pull I drag her a little closer. Then I lean forward to touch my lips to hers.

When we part I whisper tenderly, "There's no place I rather be, than with you, Sarah. Even if it's in a tub in a hotel in Nevada."

For a moment we remain like that, in silence and our foreheads resting against each other.

I'm the first to withdraw and settle into my old position against the tub. I watch as Mac reaches for her shampoo and starts to wash her hair. When she is all finished I stand up to get her a towel and wrap her in it. Mac just smiles at my antics and lets me continue. One day I will have to ask her just how much helping and caring she can stand. But not now, today I need to do this to reassure me that she's back with me for real.

The rest of the day we spend in her room, watching TV, having lunch and dinner from room service and talking and laughing. We however don't talk about what happened the last day, though; right now is not the proper time for that.

We decide to go to bed early when neither of us can follow the TV program any longer. After all the both of us have at least one night of sleep to catch up with. The last thing I see before I drift off is Sarah MacKenzie, whose head rests peacefully on my chest.

-J-A-G-

-J-A-G-

I'm in this small room again. There's nothing in here but a table and two chairs. I sit in one, staring at the dull grey wall opposite me. I've always pictured an interrogation room with one of these wall-covering one way windows. But this room doesn't have a mirror. I wonder why.

The guys that brought me here yesterday, NCIS they said, sat me in this room first thing – before anything else happened. I was left alone for an hour, studying the walls that held nothing worth noticing; not even the tinniest crack.

Once the door was finally opened, two men entered. One of them, the older took the chair across from me while the other came to stand to my right. I turned my head, forced to look up at the Lieutenant. Yet it was the other that spoke.

"He's your assigned counsel. He'll represent you throughout your trial."

It was the first time I actually heard about a court martial and it kind of brought it home.

"Unless you want to call your own lawyer," the older continued.

I shook my head while the Lieutenant shoved a paper towards me.

But again the other explained: "Sign this."

I read briefly across the page then signed my name.

"The Lieutenant's not going to say anything," my counsel addressed the other man speaking for the first time since they entered.

"Fine, we have enough evidence anyway. We've caught him with the hostage still in his hold. No need to have a confession. There's no way for you…" He pointed his finger at me, "to get out of this."

With this he stood and left the room. The Lieutenant – I didn't ask for his name yet, I realize – took the vacated chair instead.

"From here on out, I'm the boss and you gonna do what I think best for you. You only talk when I say it's okay for you to talk. Otherwise your chances, which are slim already, will fade to nothing. Understood?"

"Understood, sir."

"Before I go now, how about you tell me why you kidnapped the Colonel?"

I nod my head but then shake it. There was something else that bothered me right then.

"If they find me guilty, how much punishment can I expect?"

For a second there I was sure that he rather would have corrected my 'if' into a 'when', but in the end he said something different. "Maximum punishment is dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and confinement for life without the eligibility for parole." It sounds as if he quotes the UCMJ. "And that's only for kidnapping, but you gonna be accused of a lot more Lieutenant."

For someone who never even expected to get any punishment, this seemed pretty harsh and I'm still trying to somehow adjust to the prospect of it. And to top it all off, I'm sure that my counsel isn't too eager to help me.

"So how about the why? It might help me find a way to defend you."

"Isn't that obvious? I just wanted to help that woman make the right decision, show her that she doesn't belong in the military. No woman can ever think of being equal to a man. Defending our country is a man's job. No woman will ever be strong enough for that, not mentally and not physically.

"Where the heck will we end up if women go to war and men stay at home? She should have understood what's been established since ancient times and for a good reason."

For a moment, there lingered silence in the room.

Then my lawyer said, "I'll be back tomorrow to explain our strategy."

And without a further word he left as well.

So now I sit here again, waiting for him to show up like he said he would.

But it's not him who enters now. It still is a lawyer, but not mine. It is Commander Rabb who takes the empty seat without ever saying a word. We eye each other in silence for several minutes.

"Why?" he finally asks with an angry glare.

I wonder whether I should keep silent and wait for my lawyer, but then I discard my thoughts – what harm could it do? – and once again explain. But from the look on his face I can tell that he can't or probably doesn't want to understand. The women he's working with, must have already intoxicated his mind – which absolutely proves my point that women only weaken the military order.

Immediately after I've finished the Commander leans forward and starts talking to me in a voice laden with anger and disbelieve.

"Lieutenant, you must have got some wires crossed. Women have proven themselves in the armed forces for years. And if you can't cope with that, you are the one that doesn't belong."

For a short while we both stay quiet again. But then I see his eyes light up for a brief instant and it somehow scares me.

"That is why you manipulated Lieutenant Reese's oxygen mask. Because you couldn't stand her being better than you. That was why you were so eager to help the Captain. You knew he was innocent."

"Yeah, how could I let the Captain lose his career about something he didn't do?"

"I don't understand you," are his last words before Rabb as well leaves me alone.

Some men just don't understand.

-T-O-P-

-G-U-N-

This morning we came to base earlier than usually. Harm wanted to talk to Sammer personally – I would have so liked to have a little talk with him as well, but NCIS just wouldn't let me get near him, so Harm went instead. And it turned out much better than any of us would have thought.

After learning the new facts it was only logical for us to go see the judge and inform him, the evidence are vital to the case. So now we're just about to leave the judge's chamber.

"See you in court in fifteen minutes," the judge says before Harm opens the door.

"Aye, ma'am", we both answer.

"Oh and Colonel, good to have you back."

I look up to meet the eyes of the judge and even see a little smile lingering on her lips.

"Thank you, ma'am."

And with this Harm finally opens the door and waits for me to walk out first.

Once we've turned the corner and face down the main corridor, I spot Maverick and Charlie sitting on a bench near courtroom two. Harm has called Mav and asked him to come some minutes before time, once he has told me about Sammer and we were on our way to the judge. So now Mav and his wife are waiting for us.

"Good morning Charlie, Mav," I greet while Harm just nods.

Both Maverick and Charlie stand to meet us.

"Morning to you as well. How are you feeling, Mac?"

"I'm fine, thank you." For now I indeed am. And even if I wasn't, this wouldn't neither be the time nor place for this.

"So why did I need to come here early?" Mav asks, thankfully changing the topic instead of further questioning my wellbeing.

"Mac and I just had a talk with the judge. There are some new developments in the case you should know about."

Mav eyes both of us questioningly before he asks, "Nothing bad I hope."

"No, absolutely not," I answer. And for a moment I can literally see the wheels turning in the Captain's head as he tries to figure out whether this means that it's good for him or for me.

Harm must have read the confusion in his eyes as well, for he continues. "For our case, actually. We're going to win, Mav. There's no doubt about it now."

The information needs time to sink in, so it's Charlie who poses the next question.

"How?"

"I had a little talk with Sammer this morning. And I found out some nice details he was trying to hide. As far as I know not even NCIS knew about that."

"That's because they didn't bother to ask," I throw in. I've now heard this for the third time this morning and I still don't understand why NCIS didn't ask about it. It would have been the first thing I would have asked for.

"But what exactly is it that –" and then I see understanding in Mav's eyes, he knows what Harm is talking about. "The Lieutenant was the one tampering with the oxygen mask, wasn't he?" It isn't so much a question as it is a fact.

Harm grins broadly at him. "Yeah, he was so proud of it, I didn't even have to force him to confess."

"Harm, you've just made my day." This statement clearly radiates from all of Mav's presence. Suddenly he seems so much happier, much more confident and relaxed. And I completely understand; with this new development his job is no longer in any danger.

"But why did he do it?" Charlie asks again.

"Same reason he kidnapped Mac. The Lieutenant despises women in the military. He thought he needed to teach these two a lesson. And he still doesn't see that he is absolutely wrong."

Charlie is the one phrasing her thoughts: "Some men just can't be helped."

"I can only second that." While this is true in these special circumstances, and sure has a serious undertone as long as it concerns Sammer, I still remember different situations where the topic isn't as severe. And so does Charlie, for she shoots me a knowing grin. 'Yeah, at times you just need to let a man do something his way, even though you know it better.' Out of the corner of my eye I can see Harm rolling his eyes. He obviously caught on Charlie's and my silent conversation.

"How about we all head into the courtroom?" Harm asks now, gesturing for the door.

After exchanging a quick glance with both Maverick and Charlie, I say with a smile, "Lead the way, sailor."

Over the next ten minutes I watch as the room fills with the usual spectators. I observe the group of Top Gun students march into the room – I wonder if they don't ever have classes, but come to no conclusion. They all settle into the rows behind Maverick and I look on as Mav stands up to address Lieutenant Reese. I don't understand what is said, but I see the female officer nod at her CO's words.

As one of the last I see Admiral Metcalf walk into the room. He settles into the last row on my side, into the seat closest to the aisle, just as if he wants to leave as soon as possible once the verdict is spoken. His gaze wanders through the room, first settling on Maverick, who by now is speaking to Harm again, before it sways over to me. We exchange a quick nod the moment the bailiff starts with his usual addressing.

The room is dead quiet once the scraping of moved chairs on the floor subsided. We all wait for the judge to speak. I hear a noticeable intake of breath from the man on the bench before he starts to speak.

"This morning new evidence was presented to the court. Facts that are essential to the case and the recommendation given today.

"As I've been informed, from both the defending counsel and the prosecution, there is a legitimate confession from Lieutenant Barney Sammer that he was the one committing the criminal acts discussed in this court during the last week."

I can hear the gasp of surprise that moves through the room. And for a short period of time the noise level of the room rises, when people start to whisper to their neighbors in disbelief. The judge needs to bang his gravel once for the room to fall silent again so he can continue with his findings.

"Given the just explained circumstances I'd say that the accusations against Captain Pete Mitchell are null and void, thus he should be allowed to resume his position in the Top Gun Command immediately. Furthermore the captain should not have any disadvantages from being suspended during the hearing.

"Yet I will recommend an official court martial against Lieutenant Sammer concerning both the damage of military property, as well as the kidnapping of Colonel MacKenzie."

I can hear another gasp running through the room. There were only a few people, who actually knew what happened during the last two days, so this is news to the bigger part of the audience.

"This court is adjourned."

Once the judge vanished into her room behind the courtroom the room gets louder again, people start talking about what they just heard. I stand up as well and walk over to Harm, Mav and Charlie. Mav looks even happier now than he looked some minutes prior when we first told him that he was going to win. I guess having the judge tell you that you won't loose your job is still something different than having your defense counsel tell you the same thing.

"Congrats, Mav," I say, shaking his hand.

"Thanks. Something inside of me still can't believe it's all over and I'm back to normal."

"You better believe it, Maverick." It's Admiral Metcalf, who stepped up next to me without me noticing. "You'll be back in the air training first thing tomorrow morning."

Mav now shakes the hand of his CO and broadly grins at him. "Thanks, Viper. But why not today?"

I can see Charlie shaking her head on the eagerness of her husband, yet I can see the big smile on her face as well.

"Thought you might want to take the rest of the day off and enjoy your victory. I heard that the base's flight plan isn't too full today, they might be able to squeeze in one or two jets more." The admiral claps the younger man's shoulder before he turns and walks down the aisle. I swear I can hear him chuckling.

And when I look back at Maverick I can literally see him beaming. Shifting my eyes onto Harm, I see the same joy reflected in his eyes and his body language. The admiral just made a good day perfect for the both of them.

"So, what can you fly, Harm?" Mav starts to plan their adventure.

Harm answers in his cocky attitude: "Pretty much everything with two wings you've got around here."

Mav only responds with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't ask," I say when Maverick signals me to explain.

"He won't tell?"

"Nope, I won't. It's classified."

"Alright, guess I don't wanna know anyway," Mav gives in. "So let me rephrase that, counsel." Now it's Mav mocking Harm, who doesn't mind. "What do you want to fly?"

Harm thinks for a moment then replies, "How about an old fashioned F-14? It's still my first love."

"I so understand you. It's a pity the old girl won't be there anymore in only two years time. How about we all go to my office and I call the air boss and see what I can arrange."

I look around and see both Harm and Charlie nod whereas I too give my affirmative. Consequently the four of us finally start to leave the courtroom, the last people to do so.

-J-A-G-

-J-A-G-

Today seems to be my lucky day. First Harm gets Sammer to admit his crime and thus clear me of all charges – what I shouldn't have doubted in the first place – and then Viper hasn't said too much when he suggested that the air boss might have some spare time on the runway. For when I call, I am surprised to hear that he could manage to get Harm and I up into the air about twenty minutes later.

"Twenty minutes," I repeat once I put the receiver down. "Guess we better find you an unused suit and helmet, Harm."

Harm just nods and in his eyes I can see the same fire I feel burning in my veins, the fire that is caused by the prospect of soon zooming in the air at close to one Mach.

Before we can leave, I remember to make a second call; we still need two RIOs after all. That done, our small group heads out of my office and down the corridor.

"We're waiting out here," Charlie says as we reach the changing room.

"No need to, we're not going to climb into these flight suits naked, you know." My comment is instantaneously acknowledged with a slap to the chest by my wife.

"Still, you probably gonna talk all that cocky aviator talk in there. We can live without that."

"Ouch," Harm says mockingly.

I open the door but turn to the women and say, "Won't take long."

"The extra things are over there." Inside I point to two lockers across the room. "Just pick one set."

Shortly afterwards a man with light blond hair enters.

"Hi Rio."

"Hey. Glad to get you back into the air, Mav," he answers slightly slapping my shoulder as he passes me to get to his own locker.

"Harm, I want you to meet my RIO, Lieutenant Commander Andrew 'Rio' Ares. Rio that's Harm, my lawyer."

"Hi Rio, good name you have."

"Yeah, it fits. But believe it or not, I didn't get it because I'm a RIO. Rio is where I was born, Rio de Janeiro," Andi explains with a smile just like every other time.

"Even better."

This is when I recall something. "By the way, what's your call sign Harm? We never talked about it."

"I've already gone through a few. My current one is 'Hammer' and that I will keep," Harm tells us and I'm sure I can hear some pride in his voice.

When Andi replies, there is definitely curiosity in his voice. "That's quite a history, Hammer."

"There were a few things I needed to deal with," is all Harm says. "But hey, where's my RIO anyway?" he continues changing the topic.

"She's in the adjacent room. We got here together."

"Is she good?"

"The best, after me that is," Andi jokes.

"Certainly," I respond.

"Do you miss it, Commander, the flying I mean?"

"Yeah," Harm answers but then hesitates before he goes on. "Although I used to miss it a lot more."

Guess he finally found something or rather someone to keep his mind glued to the ground most of the time.

"You ready, guys?" I ask.

"Yeah, let's rock the clouds." It's Andi who sounds like a pilot about to take his very first flight. And to a point we all feel like this every time we go up. Every new flight is like your first – able to create the same adrenaline rush you experienced back then.

"Hate to break it to you, Rio, but the sky's absolutely cloudless," Harm says in as serious a tone as he can manage, one hand clapping Andi's shoulder companionably while the other points to the window and the light blue sky that lies beyond.

"Well, you know what I mean," Andi answers thrown off a bit.

"Sure do," Harm puts him at ease.

"He got you, Rio."

"Let's see who gets whom in the cloudless sky then." He makes a point to emphasize the word 'cloudless', then grabs his helmet and is out of the room, playing the peeved.

Harm and I follow his example and head for the door too. Outside we meet up with Andi, Mac and Charlie as well as Harm's RIO. Seeing the three women talk when we join them, I assume that they already know each other which only leaves Harm to be introduced.

"Harmon 'Hammer' Rabb, my lawyer." I like the surprised look I get when I mention his job. "And approved part-time jet pilot. This is Lieutenant Nancy 'Batgirl' Richmond. She's not directly deployed to NSAWC but made it a habit of helping out whenever a RIO is needed. So she'll be yours today."

"Pleased to meet you, Lieutenant."

"Same here."

"Now that we all know each other, let's go and get our machines ready," I say spreading my arms like I wanted to herd them forward.

Following my suggestion Andi and Nancy take the lead while the rest of us go behind.

"So now you're going to fly with Batgirl," I hear Mac say.

"I'd rather have Robin in the backseat though," is Harm's answer of which I don't quite get the significance. I never thought that he would be someone to loathe having a woman in the backseat, not after the last week and the hearing we just went through.

"Might be, but Robin doesn't want to fly."

"You don't know what you gonna miss."

"Rest assured I do. Besides, breakfast was too good to actually see how it looks in a paper bag," Mac answers.

So it is Mac who is Robin? It sure sounds like it. For a moment I was worried that I had completely misjudged Harm.

"Robin? How did you get that nickname, Mac?" I ask, seeing absolutely no relation whatsoever between Mac and the young Batman protégé.

"Yeah, how did I end up being Robin, anyway? Who said that you are Batman, Harm?" she now asks her partner eying him from the side.

"Come on Mac, your uniform is green; Robin's costume has pretty much green. Mine is dark, looking like black in the right light. Plus, you are younger than me." After that he hesitates, looking at her skeptically, but Mac isn't convinced yet. So he tries again, "Because I have bigger ears than you?"

I can literally see the laughter bubbling up inside of Mac and seconds later she can't hold it anymore. Before long Charlie, I and even Harm join in.

"This last comment saved you, Batman. Though I like your ears."

By now we've already left the building. This is when Charlie stops our group.

"Sorry Mav, I need to go. I'd love to come, but I have class again in ten."

"Oh yeah, must have slipped from my mind," I says, reaching for my wife's hand.

"It's okay. I understand and I wish you a lot of fun." She leans in placing a kiss on my cheek.

"Mind if I tag along and listen in?" Mac asks her.

"You're free to join me."

"Thanks, Charlie. So have fun up there," she says to all of us but casts a smile at Harm.

"Oh, before we go. I've just had an idea. How about we have a little dinning-out in town tonight, to celebrate some more and in a way Mac and I can enjoy as well?" Charlie inquires.

"Sounds fine," Mac agrees as Harm and I nod our approval.

"Okay, we'll see about details later. We really need to go now."

For a moment the four of us look after Charlie and Mac before we turn to walk to our jets.

Soon after I finally feel the vibration of the engine under my six again as we head for takeoff. And just for the fun of it I fly a roll as soon as we gained enough altitude.

"You missed this, didn't you, Mav?" I hear Andi's voice via the radio.

"You expected anything else?" I answer back, grinning.

"Jockey two, this is Jockey one," I say when I pull up to Harm, who started ahead of me, setting my wingtip right next to his. "What you wanna do, now?"

"How about some dogfight, you and me?"

"Sure you're up to test your skills against a Top Gun instructor, counsel?" I tease.

"You'll see soon enough."

I call the tower to tell them what we're up to. "Jockeys one and two headed for test area."

"Roger. You're all clear to go."

"Hammer, hold my wing and follow." With that I break tight to the right, heading for the test area over an uninhabited part of the Nevada desert.

"Roger, Mav."

Once we are well into the designated area I again radio Harm. "You're free to go now, Jockey two."

At the next moment both our jets take off in different directions. While Harm dives low and turns to the left, I keep my height turning right. For a while I simply enjoy being up here. Then however, my fighter training kicks back in and I ask Andi for directions.

"You have any contact, Rio?"

"One contact, course 037, angels 50."

Let the game begin. Changing my course in a low G-force turn I start to head after Harm. It isn't long before I can see him. I settle behind his jet, not too close but close enough to be within striking distance in a few seconds. I wonder why Harm isn't reacting yet, his RIO surely must have seen us, when he suddenly does a bat-turn and is facing me in a matter of seconds. He has some nerves and some pretty good skills; I have to give him that. So now we're on a direct course towards each other. Immediately my thumb is placed on the missile control button on my stick. I switch it to the appropriate weapon while the distance between us decreases quickly. Fixing my eyes onto the opposing jet I aim for it. And as soon as the missile locks onto its aim I press the button for the simulated release.

"Fox two," I comment my firing of one of the Sidewinders we carry.

Yet the moment I do, I hear the sound that tells me that Hammer has as well released his missile too and it's locked on us. Reacting instantly I pull the stick to the left, breaking away.

"Fire some flares." We need to distract that weapon before it comes too close.

Gladly the beeping, indicating that Harm's missile is still locked on us, dies some seconds later when it hits our flares.

But due to the sudden breakaway both Hammer and I were forced to perform, I've lost sight of him again.

"Where is he?" I ask, all the while checking the air around me.

For a moment I hear no response. And then: "Damn, he's directly at our six."

Yeah, 'damn' is probably the right word for this moment I once again hear the irritating beeping. This guy definitely still has enough air time, no matter his current profession. It isn't very often that I'm locked upon twice in a row, without even having seen it coming.

"Break right," Rio says behind me. And out of the corner of my eye I see that he's turned around as much as he could to determine how to best escape the incoming weapon.

I do so and we're yet again lucky to escape the blow.

"This calls for payback," I say to Rio, my pride already suffering a little. There's no way I'm gonna get shot down by a lawyer, no matter how good a friend he might be.

So I turn the jet back around, heading after Harm. Before long he's in plain sight again. This time I'm not gonna hold back. Increasing speed I close up with him, my thumb already on the fire button. Harm keeps swaying right and left, obviously avoiding to get locked upon. By now however, we are too close for me to use the missiles so I switch to onboard fire instead. Harm still keeps flying his zigzag course.

"This is not going to work, buddy," I say to myself as I start firing in advance of his position, trying to predict where the jet should be next.

Yet Harm is quick to react, and instead of directly flying into my line of fire, he pulls up his nose and starts a steep climb. In a matter of seconds we're past him even though I too pulled up my nose the moment I realized what he was up to.

"Do you see him?" I ask when I level the jet into a horizontal position again.

"He took a right turn, course 048."

Instantly I force the stick to the right, starting a tight turn close to the 9G mark. Hammer's not going to get away. And indeed, the other F14's back in sight once we hit the exact course.

"Gomer directly ahead," I hear Andi over the radio.

"Closing in to missile range," I reply.

Yet even before I'm close enough, Harm once again starts a rise.

"Not again, I'm not fooled twice by the same trick."

I get my jet in position behind his, but soon realize that it isn't the same trick by any means. Because, with our change of course, we're now headed directly into the sun and I am no longer able to make out his jet against the bright light. So instead of further following him, I settle into a dive and get to a lower altitude waiting for my chance.

And the chance comes after some more chasing and being chased, during which we both have to fly to the limit of our abilities. This time I choose the radar-guided Sparrow instead of the heat-seeking Winder we used before. And indeed, though Hammer tries his best to steer clear of the weapon, both Rio and I can soon hear the sound of an affirmative hit.

"Mort," I radio Harm to indicate that I just killed him, although only simulated.

"Gee thanks. Mind to give a lawyer a second chance?"

"Not at all, as long as you accept that I gonna be the winner." I'm however, not so sure I always will be. This man isn't only a good lawyer he's also one hell of a pilot.

I can hear Harm's laughter before his next call. "Then here we go again."

Thus the radio is once again quiet until the next round is finished. I haven't had that much fun in a while. Being the instructor is nothing compared to what we're doing now. This is a fight between equals.

When we're approaching the base at last, I'm reminded of something I haven't done in years. But right now I'm in the prefect mood for it – I feel as young and reckless as back in the days.

So I ask: "This is Jockey one, requesting permission for flyby."

"That's a negative. The pattern is full," is the answer from the air boss.

I grin, my mind already made up, that this is not going to stop me. When I turn my head, I see that Harm's jet is directly next to mine. My grin gets even wider; the crew in the tower is in for a wild ride.

The next moment we speed up our engines and pass by the tower in perfect formation.

-T-O-P-

-G-U-N-

Our dining-out takes place in an Italian restaurant in the northern part of town, a place Mav and I have wanted to test for a while. And this is just the right occasion for it. The restaurant proves to be a nice place with a private atmosphere and absolutely delicious food. All of our plates that where once filled with four different meals are now empty except for a few crumbs and decoration while our stomachs are pretty well filled with the enormous portions each of us got.

We are seated in a corner of the smaller of the two rooms the restaurant consists of. An electric candelabra burns on the wall to my right, casting a warm orange light over our table. The two long candles, the waiter placed on our table when we arrived only add to the romantic ambiance. All four of us are completely relaxed and at ease.

I watch as Harm, who sits directly across from me, leans closer to Mac. He places his arm on the back of her chair, his hand brushing against her arm. He whispers something into her ear and she starts to smile before she whispers something in return. I have to admit that I'm fascinated by their display of affection and can't take my eyes off of them.

It's my husband who breaks the spell.

"I'd like to propose a toast. To Mac and Harm, I'm glad I got two such good friends out of this ordeal."

We all reach for our glasses, all filled with water – I still have to grin about the face of the waiter when we didn't order any wine with the meal. Harm's right arm never leaves Mac's chair and once he has his glass, he settles back close to her.

"To Mac and Harm," I echo while Harm and Mac say, "to friends" instead.

It's me who first gives in to the temptation of the music softly playing, but I can tell from the way Mac has her eyes fixed on some imaginary point behind Mav and the way her lips softly move as if she's speaking, that she as well isn't immune to the muted tunes.

"How about a dance?"

"Sure, just go ahead," Harm answers.

"Actually it's you I wanted to dance with Commander. That is if you don't mind," I ask looking at Mac.

"Nope, I'm sure Mav will accompany me instead."

"Certainly." And thus we decided, now waiting for both men to get up and lead us to the dance floor.

The four of us are the only ones currently on the dance floor on the other side of the room. And I can feel the eyes of numerous guests resting on us. Yet I don't feel uncomfortable, which is more because Harm's arms around me make me feel relaxed than the fact that I actually like a big audience, which I don't, at least not here. My right hand gently rests in Harm's left and both are pulled close to our bodies. For the first time in years I actually need to reach up to lay my hand onto the shoulder of the man in front of me. Things like this are much easier with Maverick, who's my height. Yet still, it feels good when Harm starts to move us around the floor.

I cast a quick glance at Mac and my husband when they pass us by. A slight smile creeps over my face, for Mac with her heels has some inches on Mav. But they nevertheless look as comfortable as I feel.

"Those two look good together," I say to Harm.

He leans back slightly to look at me, but never stops moving.

"You think?" he asks and for a moment I'm sure I can see some worries creeping up in his mind.

"Are you jealous?"

"Are you?" is his reply.

"There's absolutely no reason for it. And you know that, Harm," I say in a gentle voice.

He nods his head but says nothing. Sometimes it's hard to truly convince your head to believe something in what your heart already trusts.

"Didn't you have any worries when they first met?"

I think back to the evening Mav came home late and first told me about the woman he met in the O-Club. The woman he immediately felt some sort of connection to. And I shake my head.

"I know Mav and, as cliché as it sounds, I do trust him. He told me that Mac is somebody he could relate to, though he didn't know why. But he somehow felt that she understood him, even though she'd only known him for nothing more than an hour back then."

"That is what Mac said about Maverick as well."

"But you didn't believe her?"

He drops his eyes, looking down at the floor through the gap between our bodies, and shakes his head. "Not at first."

"Why?" I'm not sure I'm really in any position to ask, but Mav considers these two as friends and so do I. Therefore I'm interested in how they feel about certain things, especially how they feel about each other.

Harm doesn't answer for a while and we continue to sway to the music in silence.

"I'm not sure myself," he finally offers. "Maybe I was just afraid to lose her again. You know, a short time ago, her former fiancé was back in town for a conference. It confused her to a point, shook her up, but it also changed things between us. After he was gone something about our relationship was different. And I hoped that we were on the right track to finally take the next step. Yet when she told me about Mav, I thought that she might have found someone else she could confide in, somebody who..." he trails off, searching for the words to say next. "Somebody who wasn't me, somebody with whom she hadn't that difficult a past." He shakes his head, as if trying to get rid of the thoughts. Then he glances towards Mav and Mac but quickly returns his gaze onto me.

"You know, Harm, you've just given yourself the reason why you shouldn't have worried from the start. Mav is not you. The two of you might have some things in common, might have gone through the same experiences, but you still are completely different people. And I know that Mac knows that. You two do have a past, a past in which you've overcome many obstacles. As little as I know about Mac I don't doubt that this is what's marked her deeply, the good and the bad. And that the fact that you two are still together means a great deal to her and she never wants to lose that. Yet she might have found it helpful to confine into Mav up to some point, to get an outsider's perspective from someone who would understand but not judge."

"I never quite thought about it like that. I could have spared myself some pain."

I just nod my head and smile. At least he understands now.

The next moment I'm surprised by his lips on my cheek when he softly kisses me. It causes me to stop my movement and thus forces Harm to stop as well.

"Thanks Charlie," he says when he pulls back again.

"You're very welcome."

"You think I could risk asking Mav for an exchange?"

"I'm sure he won't mind."

"Thanks for the dance and the talk, Charlie," Harm says when he releases me from his hold.

I watch as he walks over to where Maverick and Mac still dance. He taps on my husband's shoulder, after which Mav slightly bows to Mac and then places her hand into Harm's with a smile. Once Mav's eyes move away from them, they come to meet mine. And even though there is still some distance between us, I can see that his eyes are lit by the same smile that plays on his lips. I keep on looking as Mac snuggles closer to Harm. He brings his lips down to meet her temple.

Then Mav arrives by my side and gathers me in his arms. I snuggle closer too, closing my eyes and getting lost in the music and his touch.

-J-A-G-

-J-A-G-

Earlier than usual again, Mac and I drive to the base where we hand in the issued car at the supply center, only to have a Chief Petty Officer drive us to Reno International Airport – there are absolutely no eastbound flights from the base today; the only way we could have gone from here would be with me flying whatever plane with Mac in the backseat, but she absolutely rejected that – and then bring back the car.

But before we go we still have to say goodbye to our new friends. So here we are waiting for the Mitchells to show up. I lean against the side of the car, just next to the door. Mac stands in front of me. And even though we're both in civilian attire, we don't stand close enough to touch, it just wouldn't feel right.

When Mav and Charlie finally emerge from the NSAWC building, he is already clad in his flight suit.

"Sorry we're late, but I needed to catch up on a few things first," Mav greets.

"It's okay we still have plenty of time," I answer only to hear Mac say, "Four hours thirty one minutes."

"Exactly what I would have said if you hadn't said it first," I say rolling my eyes at her. Sometimes this ability of hers drives me crazy.

"So, how are you feeling, Mav, being back up in the air?" Mac wants to know.

Charlie replies instead of Maverick. "He's as excited as a little child at Christmas. He has been high on adrenalin the whole morning."

"And here I am thinking that yesterday has been enough," Mac answers with a grin.

Both Mav and I eye her as if she's gone crazy and then give her a chorused "Never", which just earns us a shaking head from Mac as well as Charlie.

For a while we just revel in these last moments of laughter between friends, neither wanting to be the one to break the spell. It's Maverick who finally does so.

"I know I already said that, but it's been great getting to know you two."

"Same here," I say, taking his outstretched hand and shaking it. I am now as happy to count this man as a friend as I was suspicious when we first came here and I learned about his close connection to Mac. And to tell the truth, he's the one who's responsible for the way Mac's and my relationship currently is. If it wasn't for him I probably would still be waiting for some unmistakable sign telling me that I should go for what I want. So I truly have to thank him.

"I wanna say thank you, that you made us feel welcome, especially me when I was the enemy," Mac addresses both but Charlie in particular.

"Come on Mac, that's a job. Personally you never were the enemy."

"Thanks. And thanks for the BBQ and last night. We had a great time." Then Mac does something I would have never expected, but she takes a step forward and hugs her new friend.

"You're very welcome," Charlie replies smiling while she returns Mac's embrace.

"Time to say goodbye, I guess." It's Maverick again.

Right, so I too step up closer to Charlie and lean in to hug her goodbye. Meanwhile Mac turns to face Mav and softly asks, "Permission to hug the Captain?"

I'm reminded of the time when she used almost the same words in front of the JAG building. Back then I was losing her to civilian life, but today I'm the one she's gonna stay with.

"Permission granted," is Mav's reply before the two hug as well.

I share another manly handshake with Maverick and tell him a last whispered "thank you" for everything he did. I guess Charlie's right after all, sometimes you just need an outsider's input to see what's right in front of you.

I'm about to turn around and open the door for Mac to get into the car when Mav's next comment catches me off guard.

"Make sure you invite us to your wedding." When I face him again he grins broadly at me.

It however doesn't take long for me to get my composure back, for it isn't that this thought is anything new to me, I've had this picture in my mind for quite a while now. So I simply answer, "Will do" with a complete and unmistakable sincerity in my voice.

I feel Mac's eyes bore into me the moment she hears my response. Slowly I turn my head facing her with a pleading look. Her raised brow clearly tells me, "Excuse me? Did I miss something?" And when I still don't say a thing – as I'm unable to form any coherent words that would come close to what I really want to say – but try to transport all my feelings through the one look we share, her brow lowers again while in turn her mouth falls slightly agape when she realizes just what I want to let her know. All the while her eyes stay fixed on me – disbelievingly.

As she stars at me this way, I keep sending silent prayers to heaven.

'Sarah please do not say no, Sarah please. I know this is not the way you pictured me to ask and still it is so very true that my heart aches for your answer. I need you in my life. I want you to always be there.'

Then, after endless minutes she finally manages a small "Oh" before she gives me her most beautiful smile. She reaches for my hand and gently squeezes it. I know this is it.

"I make sure you're among the first to get the invitations," she now answers Mav as well.

And while both Mac and I are absolutely sure that this just was the moment, the moment we said yes to each other, Maverick and Charlie look like they have some difficulties to capture what just transpired between us.

"Did what I think happened just happen?" Charlie asks shooting quizzical looks towards the both of us.

"If you think that we just got engaged, yes that happened." When I hear Mac's words, my heart suddenly beats three times faster. I've known it before, but telling our friends somehow makes it official.

"Wow!" is all Charlie manages to say before she involves Mac in another hug.

Mav once again shakes my hand, "Congrats, Harm. Way to go."

"Yeah," I reply sheepishly. Definitely a way to go!

After that, we exchange another set of goodbyes before Mac and I finally get into the car and drive off with a last "See you at the wedding".

Five hours later we're on our way back to Washington and back to the General, whom we need to explain a few things to. Mac leans against my shoulder, my arm around her. It is a good thing we took a civilian flight back home. This way I can just hold my fiancée's hand all through the flight and can place little kisses on her face every time I want.

"Don't think you will get out of that this easy, sailor," Mac whispers when my lips once again come to touch the smooth skin of her cheek.

"Out of what?" I ask innocently.

"You know what," she says, gently slapping her hand on my chest. "Did you and Mav plan this?"

"No, I swear. That was absolutely spontaneous."

She lies her head back down on my shoulder. I can tell she is slightly disappointed about the way the proposal happened, though I am perfectly sure she is not about the result.

"I will make it up to you Sarah, I promise," I whisper into her hair. I want to ask the right way. I will do it for her as much as I'll do it for me to hear her formal yes. My head is already working out a plan on how to do it.

"Don't make a promise you can't keep."

I have to smile when I recall several other conversations when she used the very same words. My eyes search for hers when she lifts her head again. Lowering my head to come level with hers I lean in to place a soft kiss on her lips. Inches before they come to meet I whisper my usual response.

"I haven't yet." I feel her smile against my lips when they make contact with mine.

-T-O-P-

-G-U-N-