A/N: The song, "Every Breath You Take," just screams stalker to me. Who is watching Mac? And will power go to Sturgis's sanctimonious head?

Every Breath You Take

Officer's Club, US Naval Academy
May 21, 2004
2000 Local

Mac looked at the handsome man seated next to her and smiled. She couldn't help but recall the first time she saw him in his mess dress uniform. It was at the NATO Ball, and it was the first time they had danced together.

Life seemed so innocent then. That night they'd been caught up in one of Clayton Webb's "missions." At the time, he claimed to be with the State Department and, as usual, he had ulterior motives for involving the two of them.

Every time Clayton Webb was involved, trouble followed. But neither she nor Harm would have to worry about the spook any longer. Not since his charred remains were pulled from the wreckage of his Porsche months earlier.

Mac heard there had been a small funeral. She didn't attend because Harm was still recovering in the hospital. Damn Webb. It was his fault Harm was there in the first place. As cold-hearted as it sounded, Mac couldn't muster up an ounce of sorrow over his death.

Why was she even thinking about the spook tonight? That part of her life was closed. And tonight, another chapter would close. The JAG gang was here to celebrate Admiral Chegwidden's retirement.

She reached beneath the table to inconspicuously take Harm's hand as the admiral approached the podium. He smiled as their fingers entwined.

Chegwidden cleared his throat. "I'm aware of all the speculation regarding my retirement. Many theories, all of them very interesting. All of them correct."

There was a smattering of laughter. No one had ever been able to get anything past their CO.

"I guess it was, uh, a confluence of many things that led to my decision. But let me be clear.
I'm not leaving anything. I'm completing one experience and starting another. Specifically, this summer, my daughter and I will visit every Major League baseball park in the nation. We'll end up in, uh, Boston in October, where I'm hoping historic things will happen. And everything after that is pretty much up in the air.

"But know this. I will take each and every one of you with me wherever I go. And trust me when I say that I'm a better man for having done my service in your company."

Applause filled the room. As the band began to play, Harm stood. "May I have this dance, Colonel?"

"Of course," she said.

Mac smiled as they danced, remembering their dance at the NATO Ball.

I know this is like dancing with your sister, but you could just pretend it's fun?

Mac, I don't think of you as a sister.

You don't?

No, I don't.

"What are you smiling about?" Harm asked.

"Thinking about our first dance together. The night you told me you didn't think of me as a sister. I didn't believe it."

"Well, Mac, I was a little focused on our mission that night."

"That you were, Flyboy."

"But I sure don't think of you as a sister now."

The words he whispered in her ear caused her to blush. Why she'd ever thought of the man as a prude was beyond her.

As Harm twirled her on the dance floor, she noticed Sturgis Turner watching their every move. Over the past couple of months, he'd asked subtle questions, none of which Mac had answered. Where she once thought of him as a friend, now she wasn't so sure. And judging from the look she saw in his eyes tonight she'd been right not to confide anything to him.

JAG Headquarters
June 7, 2004
0800 Local

"Rabb."

Jennifer Coates' voice came over the phone. "Commander Turner wants to see you right away, sir."

Harm rolled his eyes. He didn't know what the hell the SECNAV was thinking when he'd made Turner acting JAG. The past two weeks he'd had the entire office doing scut work.

Last week he'd given them two hours to provide him with the '05 budget numbers. Then he divided the JAG instructions into four sections and had each attorney review one part in preparation of a meeting the following day to discuss updates and cancellations.

Whatever the hell that meant.

Harm had, in his usual fashion, questioned the necessity. "This is make work, Sturgis. What about all the open cases?"

"We work on those as well. Please allocate your time wisely."

"Are you still there, sir?" Jennifer asked.

"Yeah, Coates. Tell him I'm on the way." Harm left his office, then crossed the bullpen. Even though Sturgis had moved into the admiral's old space, the place Harm once occupied sat vacant. Meanwhile, he was stuck in a room not much larger than a janitor's closet. The storage room was bigger.

But far be it from the high and mighty Sturgis Turner to offer Harm his old place back. And he wasn't about to ask.

"He said to go right in," Jennifer said.

Harm didn't bother to knock. "You wanted to see me?"

Sturgis's beady eyes looked Harm up and down. "Have a seat. I got word this morning of an incident on the Seahawk. The pilot of an F18 Hornet crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff."

"Any idea as to the cause."

"Initial reports by the onboard JAG indicate pilot error, but Captain Johnson isn't buying it. He wants a complete and thorough investigation."

"Are you saying he doesn't trust the investigator?"

"I'm saying he wants a thorough investigation, up to and including the JAG. I trust you'll be fair and unbiased."

"Of course. Am I to assume Colonel Mackenzie will not be going along? The admiral usually sent both of us for cases such as this."

"If you don't think you're capable of handling it, I can send someone else."

"I'm more than capable, Sturgis. I just thought—"

"I'm not the admiral. Besides, I don't think its in the best interest of this office to send you and Mac anywhere together."

Harm frowned. "And why is that?"

"Because if the two of you are caught in, let's say, a compromising situation, it'll be my ass on the line as well as yours."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not stupid, Harm. I know the two of you are living in sin."

"What the hell?"

"You live together. You aren't married. It's as simple as that. Can't have both of you on a carrier together. For that matter, anywhere on assignment. Chegwidden may have put up with it, but I won't."

"Well, when did you get to be so self-righteous? You may be a preacher's kid, but I know for a fact you haven't always walked on water."

"That's beside the point. I'm your commanding officer, and I expect you to do as I say. You've got two hours to be at Andrews. I suggest you aren't late. Dismissed."

JAG Headquarters
June 11, 2004
2000 Local

"You're working late tonight, Colonel." Bud Roberts' voice was cheerful.

"As are you, Bud."

"Figured I'd get as much off my desk as possible so that I could enjoy a weekend with my wife and kids."

"Yeah, I thought the same thing. Not that I have plans."

"When do you expect the commander to come home?" Bud didn't often speak of Mac and Harm's relationship, especially in the office. But no one else was around.

"Not for another week or so. He wrapped up his investigation but will stay on board The Seahawk for the Article 32 hearing."

"Maybe it won't take too long. Are you almost finished here? We can walk out together."

Mac shook her head. "I still have a couple of more cases to review. Go ahead, Bud. I'll see you on Monday."

An hour later, Mac left the building alone. As she walked to her car, a chill enveloped her, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. It was the same feeling she had when Dalton was trying to pursue their relationship. When Coster was stalking her.

She hurried to unlock her 'Vette, then got inside. Except for the guards, no one else was around. But the feeling was so eerie, she half expected to see Dalton in her rearview mirror. Ridiculous. He was dead, and Coster was still in prison. Nonetheless, she was relieved to be inside her locked car.

Harm and Mac's Apartment
June 14, 2004
1800 Local

Mac hurried inside the apartment building. The past few days, she hadn't been able to shake the feeling someone was watching her. Harm had called several times, but she didn't say anything. He didn't need to hear about her paranoia.

He needed to focus on the case. Sturgis was a hardass about everything. Mac became convinced he wanted Harm to make a mistake so that he could take disciplinary action. How she'd ever thought of the man as a friend was beyond her. Power had undoubtedly gone to his head. Their only hope was that a new JAG would soon be appointed.

When she reached the apartment door, she placed the key in the lock, then froze at the sound of footsteps in the hallway. She looked up to see the face of the last person she'd expected to see.

"Hello, Sarah."

A/N: Every Breath You Take by The Police