A/N: This author must confess that she totally forgot about this story until she was left a review on it the other day. My bad. I cannot help where the muse chooses to go, and sometimes makes me forget other stories out there, and this time of year is always really busy for me in real life anyways. I truly appreciate all my wonderful JAG readers and fellow JAG authors out there. I won't be bullied away by "guests" from other fandoms. I write for me. It's my outlet, and I am happy that I can brighten someone else's day sometimes as well! With that said..on with stories…

A lovely brunette enters the room clad in a floor length black dress. Normally her hair is done up in a bun or some other type of up-do that regulations mandate to keep your hair off your collar, so Harm barely recognizes the woman with her hair flowing in waves mid-way down her back.

However, someone else notices her immediately. From the side of the bar, you hear a somewhat slurred yelling of "Skates!"

Harm immediately goes into over protective mode, but that is nothing compared to the fire emanating from CDR Jackson. Mac finally puts two and two together. Before any of them can do anything, Admiral Boone steps between Harm and CDR Jackson with a hand on each of their shoulders, "I've got this, gentleman."

The Admiral walks over to Keeter and grabs him by the elbow. He really would have preferred to drag him by his ear. Sarah Rabb used that tactic on him more than once when he got out of line on his visits with Harm Senior to the farm. He whispers, "Let's go back outside, Casanova, you obviously haven't learned your lesson."

Jack, half groaning and walking slightly off kilter, inquires "What did I do now?"

Neither of them notices that CDR Jackson is following a few polite steps behind them.

Once they have reached the terrace, Admiral Boone smacks Keeter upside the back of his head. "First Mac, now Skates, do you have a death wish tonight or does your stupidity just come naturally?"

Jack stutters, "I'm just flirting a little. I didn't even touch anyone this time!"

Boone smacks him again for good measure, "Flirting with other officers' wives is not what you need to be doing. I'm not sure which is worse offense, flirting with the wife of your best friend or flirting with a woman you know is married and you don't know anything about her husband. While I may have been able to keep Harm from pummeling you, I just met CDR Jackson tonight and have no idea what type of man he is. While I could 'order' him not to beat you to a bloody pulp, I'm not entirely sure that it would even be considered a lawful order. So, before you cause any more damage tonight, you are going to go back in there and apologize to everyone and then you are going to take a cab back to your hotel."

Back inside, Beth has walked over to where she thought she heard her name, and instantly spots Harm and Mac. Harm pulls her into a hug, "Skates it's lovely to see you again. And at the risk of my wife killing me, I must say that you look quite beautiful this evening. I wouldn't have even recognized you this far out of your flight suit."

Skates immediately looks over Harm's shoulder, noticing Mac standing behind him, but she doesn't look the least bit angry. She pulls out of Harm's embrace and nods a polite, "Ma'am."

Mac gives her a warm hug as well, "Call me Mac, Skates. And I would smack him if he didn't tell you that you looked beautiful." She turns the corners of her mouth up, and looks at Harm teasingly, "After all, he is supposed to be an officer and a gentleman. This dress was made for you."

Harm shakes his head chuckling at Mac's comment.

Beth replies, "Thank you, Mac." Looking over at her former front seat driver, she laughs, "It's quite obvious who wears the pants in this marriage, and I'm sorry to say that it isn't you, Hammer."

Harm can only sheepishly grin, knowing that his former RIO is right. He waves his arms in surrender, "Ok, you two can stop ganging up on me now. Beth, can I get you something to drink?"

She hesitates for a moment, trying to quickly glance around the room, "Umm, a beer would be fine. You haven't by chance seen my husband, have you? I thought I just saw him over here, but now I have lost him."

Harm frowns, "I'm not sure what your husband looks like. I'm sorry that I missed the wedding. I ended up overseas handling a particularly nasty case of prisoner abuse."

Beth's eyes light up as she sees a gorgeous man walking her way. CDR Jackson, after seeing Boone smack Keeter in the back of the head, realized that the Admiral had the situation under control and started walking back towards the bar. When he reaches the group, he places an arm around Beth's waist and leans in to sweetly kiss his wife.

She breaks away from the kiss, and brings her hand down to intertwine her fingers with his. Immediately noticing that something is missing, she chides, "Peter! Where is your wedding ring?"

He groans at getting busted, "Oh! I'm sorry. honey. I was working on the deck earlier, using the circular saw. I had taken it off so as not to get sawdust in it, and I forgot to put it back on. It's still sitting on the shelf in the workshop."

Harm inwardly laughs, thinking to himself, 'Glad I'm not the only one whipped around here.'

Beth offers, "CDR Peter Jackson, meet Captain Harmon Rabb, the best damn pilot I ever flew back seat for, and his lovely wife, Mac."

Peter replies, "We met earlier honey. Wait, Captain Rabb is Hammer?"

Skates smacks him lightly on the chest, "Yes, silly!"

CDR Jackson shakes his head, "I'm sorry you only ever referred to him as 'Hammer,' I had no idea that Captain Rabb was the same man. If I'd known that, I would have introduced myself as 'Mr. Skates' earlier."

Mac sidles up next to Harm, whispering teasingly, "See Flyboy, you had nothing to be concerned with. Not only is he already spoken for, but he's married to your former RIO. Now don't you feel silly about getting all jealous?"

Harm briefly pictures a cat fight between Skates and Mac. He's not sure who he would place bets on in that one.

Harm kisses Mac briefly, ignoring her comments for now, and turns back to Beth, "So what are you doing with yourself these days Skates?"

She answers, "I'm working with some engineers on the Joint Strike Fighter program at NAS Pax River."

Harm arches his brows in surprise, "Qualifying on another aircraft? Tomcats and Hornets weren't enough for you?"

Beth laughs, "No, I'm not flying at the moment, but it is nice to be stateside for a little while."

Harm arches his brow, sensing there is a story here, but he will get it out of her later. For now, he is content to just enjoy a nice time with good friends.