A/N: I'm loving the feedback! It's nice to know that this is at least a little bit enjoyable, especially because it was the first fanfic I ever wrote (or, at least the first one I ever posted publicly). LOL

For all those who are confused… have no fear... this chapter should make things clear. Mic, your number is almost up!

Fair Winds and Following Fate

Chapter IX

Best Western Lodge
12:10

After the call to Sarah at JAG, Mic picked up the phone to order room service for lunch. She didn't sound particularly happy that he was in town, and he wasn't going to force the situation further than what was comfortable for her at the moment. He did, after all, need something from her, and pissing off a marine definitely wasn't the right way to get it.

He hoped that the lunch date with Melanie on Saturday had been enough to appease her concerns. It's not like he'd lied to her exactly... he just hadn't told her that he'd been engaged once before, to an American marine no less! In London last week, Mel had completely lost it with him when he confessed everything about his past... especially the part about the previous engagement. She was an attorney in international law, and frequently travelled between her firm's London and Washington offices. He had met her in London while working a case for the Australian navy. Mic had bought the plane ticket to DC on a whim, hoping that an in-person meeting would give him the chance to make things right between them.

Thankfully, the lunch date did serve its purpose. He'd told her all about Sarah, and how their relationship was a thing of the past. He needed to convince her that he was no longer in love with anyone else, and that he'd asked Mel to marry him for a reason. She seemed to understand, and he felt much better after having explained the whole mess. Unfortunately, they wouldn't be able to spend too much time together this week. Mel worked for a real ass who frowned upon the social lives of his employees. Even a lunch date with her fiancé could be misconstrued as 'dropping the ball on work'. He'd have to be careful if he called her again at the DC office. He was looking forward to the day when she could make partner in the London firm. Then they'd both be able to live and work in the same city after they were married.

Now it was just a matter of talking to Sarah, to ask her the big question. He had no idea how she'd react. What if she was still in love with him? What if she didn't understand that he was getting married to the love of his life in less than a month? What if she'd never been able to face her feelings for Rabb? He sighed. Rabb. Now there's a name he'd rather forget. Well, he'd lost one woman he loved to one Harmon Rabb Jr., and he wasn't about to lose another just because Sarah Mackenzie couldn't handle the truth about him getting married.

Mic figured that Sarah wouldn't be entirely too happy to see him after the lack of communication over the last few years, even if she was still in love with him. He was going to have to take this slow... butter her up a little before dropping the bomb and asking the question. He only hoped that her firearm wouldn't be in easy reach when he explained why he wanted to meet.

Harm's Apartment
18:00

P.O. Coates paced the hallway outside Harm's apartment. What was she going to do? Waltz right in there like nothing was up, and then tell him his girlfriend, no... future wife-to-be... was cheating on him right under his nose? There's no way he'd believe her without concrete evidence. Harm was so in love with the Colonel that she could probably get married to someone else right in front of him, and he'd wish her well. Well... actually, that did almost happen! Jen thoughts turned to Mic Brumby momentarily. What did the Colonel see in that guy anyway? It's not like he could even come close to comparing to Harm.

Taking a deep breath, Jen knocked on Harm's door. It was time to give Fate a little nudge in Harm's direction. And who better to fill him in than someone he trusted and cared about anyway? Once he had all the facts, then he could decide what was best for him and Mattie. Jen only hoped that he wouldn't spend too much time hurting from the loss.

Knocking a second time, she began to worry. What if Harm wasn't home? How was she going to warn him of the meeting tonight between the Colonel and Commander Brumby? There was just enough time left for her to get to Mac's apartment and at least intercept Commander Brumby before things got too out of hand. Returning to her own apartment to grab her purse and keys, she took a moment to think aloud. "So, Brumby's meeting with Colonel Mackenzie... Harm's nowhere to be found... if I can't warn Harm, then I can at least try to stop Mac from making the biggest mistake of her life... maybe this whole thing isn't a lost cause... maybe Harm won't need to know about it at all!"

The apartment door slammed shut as one flustered Petty Officer ran down the hallway.

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Chapter X... the final one... coming soon! Andsowego