Thank you all for the wonderful response to Chapter 1. I hope you like Chapter 2. Thanks for reading!

"Commander Madison was an exemplary officer," Bud read from a large pile of papers spread out on the counter in Harm's kitchen later that evening. "And a brilliant mind. He made a lot of suggestions to the Navy for an upgrade on the F-14. Everything from the way the controls are laid out in the cockpit to the way the wings and the weapons are positioned for the best aerodynamics."

"Yeah?" Harm asked with interest. He came down the steps from his bedroom where he had changed into a black suit and tie for dinner. "Did he ever run any test flights?"

"He was just about to start that phase, sir," Bud said a little sadly. He cleared his throat. "Uh, his wife was also a model citizen. She didn't work, but she volunteered with several community organizations, and friends say that she was completely devoted to her husband. They say they never saw a happier couple."

"Kind of sounds like you and Harriet," Harm remarked.

"Well, thank you, sir."

"Bud, didn't I tell you to drop the 'sir'? It's Matthew tonight."

"Yes, sir," Bud replied automatically. "I mean, Matthew," he corrected. "Sorry, sir—"

"Bud!"

"Right. I'm just a little nervous, sir—uh, Matthew. I've never really been part of an undercover CIA operation before. Actually it kind of reminds me of my first date with Harriet. I was so nervous that I would say something wrong, and I got so tongue-tied that I couldn't even speak."

"No…not you," Harm deadpanned.

"I know it's hard to believe," Bud continued, oblivious to his friend's teasing. "I just didn't think she would ever want to go out with me. And then when she finally said yes, I didn't even make it to the restaurant because of a stupid flat tire. Then I thought I had screwed things up so much that Harriet would never want to see me again." Bud sighed. "Commander, take it from me…the first date is definitely the hardest."

Harm chuckled. "Yeah…well, apparently Mac and I skipped that step."

Bud grinned and gave a low whistle. "That's right, you're actually married to the Colonel now, sir."

"What do you mean, you're married to the Colonel now?"

Both Harm and Bud looked up at the sound of a high-pitched, utterly stunned voice in the doorway.

"Renee," Harm said, his eyes widening in surprise. He took a step towards her.

But Renee backed away from him, almost as if she had been stung. "What do you mean, you're married to the Colonel now?" she repeated.

Harm held out his hands in an appeasing motion. "Renee, it's part of the job," he assured her. "It's not real."

"So you're just pretending to be Mac's husband?" Renee's tone was somewhere between haughty and outraged. She took a couple of deep breaths. "Oh, I understand," she said, forcing mock composure into her voice. "It's like…acting in a movie, right? It's not real. Just because someone might have been hinting that it would take a God-given miracle for you to put a diamond ring on her finger, and then she finds out that you've managed to make that kind of commitment to someone else…no, it's not real at all."

"Renee...I..." Harm wasn't sure what to say.

"I'm sorry," she finally said, a little more calmly this time. "When will you be back?"

"When it's over," Harm replied cryptically. "Renee, I gotta go."

Her eyebrows arched accusingly. "To meet your wife?"

He nodded.

"Oh. I see."

As Harm turned away and motioned to Bud to gather the files, Renee couldn't decide what bothered her more – the wedding band that she never thought she would ever see on Harm's left hand or the woman who had finally won that vow from him – even if it wasn't real.

"Melissa Madison sounds like a devoted, loving wife, ma'am."

Harriet was seated on Mac's couch with a file on Melissa Madison that wasn't nearly as thick as her husband's but still filled with several pages that described a warm, charitable woman.

"She volunteered at the local soup kitchen and also for several animal rescue organizations. She cooked and cleaned and supported her husband at all of his military functions. She sounds like a really nice person."

"So why would anyone want to hurt her?" Mac asked from the bedroom.

Harriet sighed. "I don't know, ma'am."

There was a soft creak as the bedroom door opened, and Mac emerged into the living room wearing a long, shimmering blue dress with a flattering bodice, spaghetti straps, and a sexy slit up the side.

"Oh, ma'am, you look beautiful," Harriet exclaimed.

"Thank you, Harriet. I guess the CIA does know something about picking out formal dresses."

Mac twirled around experimentally, watching as the dress swished softly against her ankles. Letting out a pleased sigh, she held her hand up to the light, intently studying the gold band around her left ring finger.

"That also looks good on you, ma'am."

Mac smiled at her friend appreciatively. "Thanks, Harriet."

"So..." Harriet's eyes twinkled. "You're a married woman now."

Mac laughed. "Come on, Harriet. I'm not really married."

"Then consider it a practice run for when you and Mic finally do tie the knot."

Mac sighed a little dreamily. "I guess so. I just never thought it would happen with—"

"Harm?" Harriet asked teasingly.

"You never thought what would happen with Harm, love?"

Mac jumped a little at the sound of a heavy Australian accent in the doorway. "Mic!"

"Evening, Sarah. Hello, Harriet." He acknowledged both women and planted a kiss on Mac's cheek as he made his way across the room. "Sarah, you look beautiful in that dress. But I thought we were staying in tonight, love?" He winked at her. "Although I won't complain if you want to wear it, I do think I'd like you better out of it."

"Tonight?" Mac's eyes widened. "Oh, Mic, I can't tonight. I—um…" She looked over at Harriet helplessly.

"She has a date with her new husband," Harriet supplied bluntly.

"It's for work," Mac explained quickly. "We're helping with a CIA investigation."

Mic immediately picked up on the 'we' in Mac's sentence.

"You're going undercover as Rabb's wife?"

His jaw dropped in disbelief, and Mac laughed and placed a finger under his chin to close his mouth. "Mic, it's just part of the job."

Mic looked down at the floor and rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "I realize that, Sarah. I'm just not sure I like the idea of you pretending to be another man's wife."

Privately, he wondered if it was just the wife part that bothered him or the leading man who would be playing her husband.

"Well, you have nothing to worry about," Mac assured him, pressing a light kiss to his cheek. "After this is over, I'm all yours again."

Mic swallowed hard, trying bravely to accept his fiancée's latest assignment. "Well, can I help you pack?" he asked. "Or do Marines always keep a bag packed and ready to go?" He forced a laugh, trying to lighten the mood with a joke.

"Well, they do," Mac replied. "But I'm not a Marine anymore. I'm a dutiful Navy housewife," she parroted in a sing-song voice. She laughed. "Actually the CIA is providing everything we need."

"Oh." Mic sank down on the couch dejectedly. "How long will you be gone?" he asked.

"I don't know. It depends on how long it takes to close the investigation. Mic, I'll be fine," Mac said reassuringly. She grasped his hand in hers and squeezed warmly. "I promise."

"I know," he whispered. "I trust you, Sarah."

"Oh, Mic," she breathed as he lifted his hand to her cheek and brought his mouth down on hers.