Rating: K+

Summary: Set near the beginning of season 6 before Mac has moved the ring. Mac is prosecuting a case being shown live on television and is receiving a lot of press coverage including a feature in People Magazine. A feature which Harm reads leading him to send Mac a surprising letter which just may change everything.

Disclaimer: JAG was created by Donald P. Bellisario and is owned in whole or in part by Belisarius Productions and Paramount Network Television (CBS Studios). This is a work of fiction playing with the characters that I have loved for more than twenty years – I make no money from this and no copyright infringement or disrespect is intended.

Significant Mail

By: visions2share (a.k.a. Vi)

Mac picked up the cordless handset and punched in Mic's home number, the phone rang and rang but, after ten times, Mac gave up, he obviously wasn't going to answer. It was past nineteen hundred and she knew Mic wasn't in the habit of working late but he had seemed anxious to impress the senior partners so it might be worth a try. He'd proudly presented her with one of his new business cards a week or two before and she'd stuck it … somewhere. Mac spun in a slow circle trying to think where she might have put it before remembering she'd stuffed it in the lap drawer of her little desk, hopefully it would still be relatively near the top. And it was there on top of the pile in the front left corner with a couple hundred other business cards she should probably throw away. She dialed the company's main office and, when prompted, entered Mic's four-digit extension he'd scribbled on the card 'just for her.'

"Brumby," well at least she'd finally tracked him down.

"Mic, it's Mac, I've been trying to reach you."

"Just spending a little time setting up my office, luv. Have you calmed down? You sounded pretty uptight in the message you left Tuesday night."

Mac felt her eyebrow raise – uptight? – as in she was over reacting? Yeah, right.

"I was hoping we could get together to talk …"

"I could come over and we could snuggle up in front of your fireplace to keep each other warm on this chilly autumn night." Mac could practically hear him wiggle his eyebrows in that way he thought was charming, and on some guys – like Harm – was playful, but on him was just smarmy.

"It's getting pretty late already I'll need to hit the rack soon …"

"I'd be happy to wear you out so you'd sleep really well."

Oh, ick, "actually I was wondering if you'd like to meet at that little cafe at the corner of Seventh and King streets for coffee or breakfast tomorrow?", a public place would likely be a better choice.

"Well, I'd have breakfast with you every morning if you'd let me. In bed, preferably."

And again, icky, "we could meet at oh-seven-thirty. Would that work for your schedule?"

"Ah, Sarah you're no fun tonight – sure I can't interest you in a more private rendezvous? Unless you're into the whole exhibitionist scene – in which case …"

"Mic, please, enough," she wasn't going to listen to his lewd lothario suggestions anymore. How had she ever been demented enough to find his behavior charming? "Are we on for breakfast at oh-seven-thirty at the King Street Café and Bakery, or not?"

"Of course, Sarah, I'd never let you down. I'm a man who knows how to please his woman."

"Goodnight, Mic, see you tomorrow," and she hung up more determined than before to say a final goodbye the next day.

Mac spent most of the evening rereading the letter that Harm had sent – she had it memorized long before she folded it and tucked it safely back in its envelope and gently placed that envelope in her bedside drawer. She knew in her heart she'd revisit it often. She did spare a few minutes in the course of the evening wandering around her apartment picking up the random thing or two Mic had left at her place since he showed up in DC in May. She'd never invited him to stay the night but when he came over, he frequently brought things he thought were essential to keep at a girlfriend's home. She dumped the small pile of things in the free tote bag she'd gotten with purchase at some store months before. Finally, she went to her dresser and found the box the ring had come in. She pulled the ring off her right hand and settled it snuggly in the box. She settled the box in her purse so it would be easier to keep track of before she gave it back.

… … …

Maybe she should have practiced what she wanted to say? Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, she really didn't know Mic well enough to predict how he was going to react. Mac was so lost in her thoughts she had almost no warning that Mic was approaching.

"Sarah, good morning, luv," Mic leaned down to kiss her and she turned so he connected with her cheek rather than her lips.

"Good morning, Mic. Please sit down."

"That wasn't a very welcoming greeting. Care to try again?" Mic's eyebrows waggled in that smarmy way of his and he started to lean forward to try for another kiss.

"No," Mac spoke firmly, "sit down, Mic, we need to talk."

"You are way too serious for so early in the morning," Mic sat himself across from her at her carefully selected two-person table in the back corner, "you're still in a snit over the magazine, aren't you?"

"A snit?" Mac questioned, her eyes narrowing, "why in the world would you agree to talk to a magazine reporter in the first place?"

"Good press is an important aspect of a televised trial. Putting a softer face on the prosecution makes you seem more relatable. They put in a nice discreet mention of Beckett, Benedict and Carrington – which was a nice touch."

"You betrayed my private life to the media to get your new law firm a mention in a magazine!?"

"Of course not. I gave the interview to help you. Plus, a guy has a right, no, a responsibility, to brag when he has a beautiful fiancé."

"Mic we are not engaged," Mac spoke slowly emphasizing each word.

"Not yet but we will be soon so what's it matter?" his tone made it a rhetorical question.

Mac sighed and reached into the purse on her lap, pulled out the ring box and slid it across the table, "we're never going to be engaged, Mic. I'm returning the ring. I apologize for ever accepting it in the first place." Mic's mouth hung open while he processed and Mac took advantage of his silence to stand and retrieve the tote bag from under her chair. She set it on the table, "here are all the things you left at my apartment. Have a good life, Mic. Goodbye," and she walked away before he could respond.

Walking along the sidewalk toward where she'd parked her 'vette, Mac had to forcibly remind her subconscious she was in uniform and it would be inappropriate for a Marine to be seen skipping down a public sidewalk. It had been so long since she'd felt so happy or carefree.

"Sarah! Sarah! Wait!" Mic's voice thundered from behind her. She didn't slow down but instead quickened her pace a little as she headed for her car. Some little voice in the back of her head, her Marine instincts maybe – even if it did sound incredibly like Harm's voice, told her she needed to be prepared to make a quick getaway before the situation got out of hand.

Mac reached her car, unlocked and opened the driver's door, tossed her purse across to the passenger seat before she looked up at Mic.

He was approaching the car parked on her passenger side, she raised her voice just enough to be heard, "what, Mic?"

"I moved halfway around the world for you! Gave up my commission for you! And now suddenly it's 'goodbye, Mic – have a nice life'? You can't treat me like that!" Despite the closing distance, Mic's voice was still thundering, drawing stares from up and down the street. As embarrassing as she was finding it, the thought also flashed through her head how grateful she was there were so many witnesses.

"I never asked you to do those things, Mic. You didn't even discuss them with me. Suddenly, you were just here trying to tell me how to live my life. I'm sorry I let it get this far – I should have returned the ring the night you showed up unannounced and uninvited at the Surface Warfare Ball."

"You are such a bitch! You wore my ring for three and a half months before that night – stringing me along. Were you pretending my diamond had come from your precious Harm? My showing up spoiled your plans to have your cake and eat it too, didn't it? You just loved using me to make him jealous – bet you really got your rocks off when we actually beat the shit out of each other over you – huh!? Well, I won't let you get away with using me that way!"

Mac did her best to remain calm, "I'm sorry you're hurt, Mic, but the fact you'd think I'd treat any man that way just shows how little you know me."

Mic was stepping off the curb hands outstretched to grab her arms. Mac wasn't about to let that happen.

She spoke even as she dropped into the driver's seat the key ready to shove into the ignition, "it really is better for both of us this way. Goodbye." She slammed the door behind her and hit the lock button with her left hand even as her right was turning the key and bringing the powerful engine to life.

Mic tried the door handle first but she'd locked it in time so he started banging on the window with his fists in blind rage, screaming unintelligible profanities and repeatedly calling her a 'bitch' and a 'whore'. As she hurried to back out of her parking space, she noticed they'd attracted quite a crowd.

Hopefully, rumors of this scene wouldn't make their way to the pack of reporters that had been camped out in the JAG parking lot all week. But, she didn't like the odds. DC was a small town in the way juicy gossip made the rounds. Somebody at JAG HQ would likely know before lunch. The bright spot was it was over and done and she could move on with her life – just as soon as Harm got back from his investigation on the Seahawk.

Author's Note: I am going to continue to update this story periodically as the inspiration strikes and time allows. I can't promise regular updates as this story is not my main focus at this time – it is merely the thing I am using to unclog my brain when writer's block sets in on my primary project. I don't have a plan for where this story is going so if you have any ideas – or things you'd like to see – please leave them in the comments. Thank you for taking the time to read and review!