It takes Jack a moment to regain his composure. For a moment, he had forgotten how much of a handful Sarah MacKenzie could be. Her and Harm were definitely a matched set! He pitied any Commanding Officer who had to deal with these two, especially before they admitted their feelings to each other. Sturgis had briefly told him of the amount of sexual tension in the air whenever the two of them occupied a room at the same time. He understood, as he had seen it firsthand in a lonely Iranian desert. He could only imagine how much it grew over the years that they continued to deny their feelings. Once he feels properly grounded again, he asks, "So where is my old Academy buddy?"

Mac cheekily grins, "He got roped into dancing with Admiral Sebring's daughter."

Jack looks at her quizzically, he has absolutely no clue who the hell Admiral Sebring is. He questions, "And you allowed this because….?"

Mac smiles, "Admiral Sebring is one of my superiors, and he asked if Harm would dance with her as a personal favor. I permitted it because I like to see Harm squirm every once in a while, in front of the brass!"

Jack stares at her incredulously. His best friend married one saucy little minx, indeed! He baits her, "So you wanted to see if you could get him to rise to the challenge, huh? Well, if you want to see him squirm, why don't you and I head out to the dance floor and join them."

Mac slips her hand in his and lets him lead her towards the dance floor. She glances around the room to still see no sign of the General or the Roberts. If she had known everyone was going to be so late, she would have indulged in Harm's affections a while longer. She quickly looks up at Jack who is wearing a grin like the cat that ate the canary. How did she end up around so many arrogant flyboy types always trying to one up each other? She stealthily whispers in his ear, "Now Jack, my husband has absolutely NO problem rising to ANY challenge presented to him. Just to make sure, I'll present him with another one when we get home, we'll see how quickly he can peel this dress off of me!"

Jack feels a blush rising up his neck, and he merely nods his head in acknowledgement. He isn't going to be able to rile Mac up. She's had his number since the day they met. Harm, on the other hand, is an easier target and he plans to make the most of it!

Meanwhile, on the dance floor, Amelia is trying to make polite conversation with Harm while he is leading her around the ballroom in a waltz. She is so starstruck that she doesn't realize how little he is actually paying attention to her. Harm's interest has suddenly become otherwise occupied. He is glancing over her shoulder resembling a fiery, green eyed monster as he sees his wife lace her hand with Keeter's.

General Cresswell has just entered the ballroom. He was delayed by a meeting with the SecNav and a few foreign officers in one of the side rooms. He immediately notices a thickness in the air that would rival the desert after a sandstorm. He scans his eyes across the dance floor, seeking out the source. He chuckles when he sees that Rabb got roped into dancing with Admiral Sebring's daughter, until he notices the fire emanating from Rabb's eyes. He follows the direction of the hate, landing on the lovely Mac, happily dancing with an unknown officer with Captain's bars. 'Oh hell! What in world is she doing?' he thinks to himself.

Dora Cresswell excuses herself from the Admiral's wives she was talking to and walks up to Gordon, slipping her arm around his waist. She can feel the tension radiating off of him in waves. She looks up at him, "Honey, what's wrong?"

Gordon chuckles, "I'm trying to figure out if I am going to have to diffuse world war 3 tonight."

Dora smiles, "Why, because they decided to put Squids and Jarheads in the same room, with alcohol, and expect them to behave in a civilized manner?"

Gordon looks at his wife disbelieving, "NO! I deal with Sailors and Marines together every day, and they know how to maintain a certain sense of decorum, except maybe those two, gesturing in both Harm and Mac's directions!"

Dora just laughs at her husband immediately defending both the Navy and the Marines in one sentence. "What did Harm and Mac do this time?"

Gordon shakes his head, "Not Harm AND Mac. Surprisingly, the Captain appears to be innocent in this situation. However, I may need to have a talk with that Marine. She has the audacity to be dancing with some unknown Captain, in front of her husband nonetheless, and by the looks of things, Harm is anything but happy! Who in the hell is that guy?"

Harriet and Bud walk up and catch the last bit of the conversation. Bud states matter of factly, "Oh, that's Captain Keeter."

The General ponders this for a moment, the name vaguely ringing a bell. Before he has a chance to voice anything, Bud rambles on, "Captain Keeter was Captain Rabb's roommate at Annapolis, sir. It wouldn't surprise me if he and Colonel Rabb were trying to get a rise out of Captain Rabb."

Cresswell chuckles, "Oh, they are going to get a rise out of him alright, just probably not the type she was looking for!"

Harriet laughs, knowing her children's' godparents all too well, "You've certainly got that right, Sir."

After the song is finished, Harm takes Amelia back to her father with her arm linked in his. He walks to Admiral Sebring and smiles, "Thank you for the honor of the dance with your daughter, Sir." Amelia blushes at the Captain's compliment, he truly is an officer and a gentleman. She just wishes he wasn't married! After chatting for a few minutes, Harm excuses himself to go find his wife. She owes him the first, of what he hopes to be several, dances of the evening!

Meanwhile, Mac has noticed that the Cresswells and the Roberts have arrived and seeks to excuse herself from Jack when she sees the look she is getting from the General. Jack, oblivious to her discomfiture, brushes her off, "Come on Mac, let's go say hi to Bud and Harriet." Mac grits her teeth as they head over there. She was hoping to avoid this.

When Mac and Jack reach the group, Keeter promptly stands at attention in front of the General. He doesn't know who this man is, but he isn't up to torqueing off a higher-ranking officer this early in the evening. Little does he know that has already happened. Mac provides the introductions, "Jack, please meet Major General Gordon Cresswell, JAG's Commanding Officer, and his lovely wife Dora. General & Madam Cresswell, this is Captain Jack Keeter."

Jack is the first to respond in a Southern Drawl, "Ma'am, Sir, I'm pleased to meet you."

The General gives Keeter the once over before saying, "Stand at ease Sailor. Keeter? Now I know where I know that name. You flew several missions for the CIA, and Rabb and MacKenzie had to bail you out a few times."

Jack, rightfully chastised, remarks, "Yes Sir, that would be me. However, I do have a better track record of keeping my planes in the air than Harm does."

The entire group gets a good laugh out of that one, and the ice is temporarily broken. Jack turns to Bud and gives him a firm handshake and a gentlemanly thump on the back. "Bud, it's nice to see you again." He turns to Harriet and lifts her hand to give it a soft kiss. "Mrs. Roberts, you are looking as radiant as ever."

Harriet blushes at the compliment, "Thank you. It's been years since I have seen you, but you are still as charming as ever I see." She does enjoy the occasional attention by some dashing pilots. She is happily married, but not dead!

While he has a quick moment, the General takes a moment to whisper to Mac, "Are you out of your mind?"

Mac, with a twinkle in her eye, innocently says, "Whatever do you mean, Sir?"

The General just shakes his head at this silly Marine, "Ok, you are the one that has to go home with him, not me. But don't say I didn't warn you!"

Mac raises an eyebrow, "What? You think Harm was jealous of Keeter? They have been friends too long for him to have to worry about anything there, and he knows it."

The General continues laughing, "You may think he knows it, but Harm looked like he was ready to blow a gasket when he saw the two of you!"

Mac smiles, "Well then, I guess I will just have to find a way to make it up to him later, then won't I, Sir?

The General smiles back, "I'm sure you will be very persuasive in your argument, your honor. Just don't throw the book at him for trying to protect his territory."

Mac winks, "Sir, I don't think any words will be necessary for me to make it up to him."

The General blushes deeply at her insinuation. He does NOT need any insight into this particular area of his officer's lives. "Colonel, I will leave you to your own devices, just keep it out of MY office."

Mac smiles as they rejoin the group. She is on a roll tonight. Two for two and the night has only begun!

Dora and General Cresswell stay for a few minutes before excusing themselves to go mingle with some of the upper brass. Dora is mildly surprised. She figured he would wait until Harm joined the group to try and keep the peace. The General picks up on her unspoken cue and mutters in his wife's ear, "I think they will be fine. I don't think either of them want to experience a dressing down in front of this crowd. Besides, I think Mac can handle both of them single handedly if she has to."

The rest of the group chats amicably for a few minutes as Keeter regales the group with some of his most recent adventures, Mac talks about a few of her more interesting cases, and Bud and Harriet relate some of their children's silliest tales.

Keeter excuses himself from the group, "It's been great catching up with all of you. I need to go find my Academy buddy, and then a lovely woman to dance with for the evening, since I don't think the Colonel will indulge me with another dance."

Mac and Harriet smack his arms simultaneously from either side of him before Mac threatens, "Behave Jack, or I will have to tell any women you meet tonight some very colorful and embarrassing stories."

Jack knows she means business and bids everyone "Adieu" before he can get himself into any more trouble. Picking on Harm is one thing, ticking off Mac is asking for a death wish, and a slow and painful one at that!