Safe Harbour - Part 1

Wednesday, 16 October 2002
1035 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

The Marine Corporal didn't recognize the man who exited the elevator, but he had a VIP visitor's badge pinned to his suit. The Corporal stood as the man approached. "May I help you, Sir?"

"Where is Admiral Chegwidden's office?" the man barked, frowning at the Marine.

"Right through these doors and straight through the bullpen, Sir," the Marine replied, opening the heavy glass door for the visitor.

The man didn't even wait for the Corporal to finish talking before he walked away. He didn't acknowledge the information, nor the Corporal. 'Thinks he's such hot stuff,' griped the Marine to himself. 'Who does he think he is anyway?'

Petty Officer Tiner looked up to see the man approaching. He immediately noticed the VIP badge. When he looked at the man's face, he recognized him from his picture. "Good morning, Mr. Secretary.  Welcome to JAG," Tiner said to the new SecNav. "May I help you, Sir?"

"Chegwidden. Where is he?" the SecNav said shortly.

"The Admiral is in his office, in conference, Sir. I'll inform him you're here." Tiner picked up the handset and pressed the intercom. "Excuse me, Admiral," he said when the Admiral answered, "Secretary Sheffield is here to see you, Sir." Tiner set the receiver down, making his way around the desk as he said, "The Admiral can see you now, Sir."

"Well, I should damn well hope so!" barked the SecNav as he walked past Tiner and into the Admiral's office. He saw a female standing in front of the Admiral's desk and glared at her before speaking to the Admiral. "And that boy was going to make me wait while you talked to a secretary?" he sneered.

Admiral AJ Chegwidden looked at Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie and nodded his dismissal. She turned and left his office through the side door. "Still haven't learned rank insignia, have you, Mr. Secretary," AJ stated it as a fact, not a question.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"What brings you to JAG, Mr. Secretary?" AJ asked bluntly, changing the subject.

"A problem. A very big problem."

Ten minutes later, AJ buzzed Tiner on the intercom. "Tiner, have MacKenzie, Rabb, and Turner come in here on the double."

"Aye, aye, Sir!" Tiner replied. He quickly rounded up the three lead attorneys and herded them toward the Admiral's office.

"Is Sheffield still in there, Tiner?" asked Mac as she put her hand on the doorknob. She groaned as Tiner nodded in the affirmative. Mac entered the office first, followed by Commanders Harmon Rabb and Sturgis Turner. The three officers came to attention stance and Mac, as the senior officer of the three, said, "Reporting as ordered, Sir!"

As she spoke, Sheffield turned around and stared disbelievingly at Mac. "What the hell is this, Chegwidden?" he barked.

"I believe you mean 'Who the hell is this', don't you, Mr. Secretary?" corrected AJ. But before the SecNav could speak, AJ continued by making the introductions. "Mr. Secretary, these are my senior attorneys: Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, my Chief of Staff," AJ grinned at Mac. Then he focused on the men. "Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. and Commander Sturgis Turner."

Sheffield frowned. "Not acceptable, Admiral. It's too dangerous..."

"Surely, Mr. Secretary, you aren't suggesting that because Colonel MacKenzie is a woman, she isn't able to perform her duties? I know you wouldn't be suggesting that... not here. Not in a law office," AJ scowled. Sheffield turned and glared at AJ, but he didn't say a word. "No," AJ continued. "I didn't think so." He turned to his three officers. "Take a seat. We have a problem."

They all took seats and Sheffield explained the situation. "As you've probably heard, there's been a rash of weapons being smuggled out of Norfolk for the last several months."

Harm interrupted. "Actually, Mr. Secretary, it's been going on for almost a year now.  They've not been able to come up with any leads at all."

Sheffield frowned. He didn't like to be interrupted. "The MPs made an arrest last night. Unfortunately, the man they arrested happens to be the son of a United States Senator. So this is already high profile, and the press will be on it before the day is out."

"Which Senator is that, Mr. Secretary?" asked Sturgis.

Sheffield and AJ watched the two men closely as Sheffield said, "Senator Jackson Bailey, from Colorado."

Both Harm and Sturgis inhaled sharply. "Bailey, Sir?" questioned Harm.

"Then the man arrested was Commander Scott Bailey, Sir?" confirmed Sturgis.

"That's right," affirmed AJ. "And I understand you both know him rather well."

Harm and Sturgis looked at each other, then back at the Admiral. "Yes, Sir," they chorused.

"Yes, well," muttered Sheffield. "He's already insisting that one of you represent him. He's not talking to a soul until he sees one of you. His father, however, is insisting that both of you represent him.  I had agreed to that assuming the Admiral and his Chief of Staff would prosecute." Sheffield turned and looked at Mac. "But now, I just don't know if that is such a good idea."

"Mr. Secretary, you obviously don't believe that I can possibly handle this case. Let me set your mind at ease. I don't want it." Mac stood. "If you'll excuse me, Sir, I'll get another attorney for you. A male." She turned to leave, wondering what she was thinking. There wasn't another male attorney!  Not with Bud gone.

"Sit down, Colonel," ordered AJ gruffly. He didn't wait to see if Mac obeyed; he knew she would. He turned his attention back to the SecNav. "Mr. Secretary, you've already insisted that because of having both Commanders on the defense, that I be the prosecuting attorney in this case with my Chief of Staff as second chair.  Just who the hell did you think was my Chief of Staff?!"

Sheffield grew warm under the collar as his neck began to turn red.  "Sure as hell not a woman," he mumbled.  "My predecessor referred to your Chief of Staff as 'Mac'.  He said this 'Mac' could handle anything I threw at him."

Mac smiled, in spite of herself.  She never realized that Alexander Nelson thought so highly of her skills.

"Secretary Nelson knew my people," AJ stated smugly.  He never really liked Nelson, and he certainly bumped heads with him a lot, but Nelson knew Mac's worth.  He always had.  "His choice, and my choice, for second chair with me is Colonel MacKenzie. If you disagree with that, Sir, give me your argument in writing or there will be an internal investigation. I guarantee it."

"Are you threatening me, Admiral?"

"No, Mr. Secretary. I'm simply stating a fact. And I believe you know why it's a fact. Sir," AJ said cocking his eyebrow meaningfully.

Sheffield looked at Mac and back to AJ. "You'd just better win. That's all I have to say." He rose from his chair and headed for the door.

Before he pulled it open, however, Mac spoke. "No, Mr. Secretary. We had better find the truth. If Commander Bailey is guilty, the Admiral and I will prove it."  Sheffield slammed the door as he departed. Mac turned back to AJ. "Admiral, I do apologize. I was way out of line, Sir."

"Yes, you were, Mac. But he was a lot further out of line." AJ shook his head in disgust. "A secretary!  Silver oak leaves on your collar, and he calls you a damn secretary!"

Mac laughed. "It's not the first time I've been called that, Sir. Probably won't be the last.  And there are certainly worse things he could have said," she smirked.

"Better be the last time I hear it," AJ growled. "Have a seat, people. Let's..." A knock on his office door interrupted him. "Enter!"

Tiner stepped inside. "Excuse me, Admiral. Ms. Cavanaugh is here for lunch?"

AJ swore under his breath. "Damn, I forgot." He looked up and said, "Okay, let's break for lunch, people. Back here at 1300 sharp. Dismissed." They all rose and chuckled as they heard the Admiral mutter, "Asshole called her a secretary!"

Harm and Sturgis made their way out to the bullpen, Harm almost running through the Admiral's outer office.  Mac stopped to talk to the Admiral's new girlfriend... who also happened to be her friend.  "Hi, Meredith."

"Mac.  Hello.  How are you?"

"Fine, thanks."  She nodded toward the Admiral's office.  "Lunch?" she grinned.  Meredith nodded with a smile.  "He's not in the best mood right now.  Maybe you can cheer him up a bit, hmm?" she conspired.  "We have to meet with him again after lunch."

Meredith looked past Mac as AJ stepped up behind her.  "Not in a good mood, hmm?  Maybe I don't want to have lunch," she teased.

"Damn well better!" AJ said with a fake gruffness.  "In fact, come in here for a minute," he said as he took Meredith's hand and pulled her inside his office.  He pulled her into his embrace as he kicked the door closed. 

Mac smiled as she returned to her office.  She was quite pleased with herself.  Even though she hadn't actually planned their meeting, she still took credit for introducing Meredith to the Admiral.  Meredith was a bit of a nut, Mac knew; she wondered if the Admiral had discovered that yet.  

"Hey, Mac!  Are they gone yet?" asked Harm, eyeing the Admiral's office but walking into Mac's.

"Not yet.  They're necking," she grinned.

"Oh God.  I did not need to know that," Harm groaned.

"Commander Rabb!"

"Oh, geez..." sighed Harm quietly.  He turned and approached the Admiral and Meredith.  "Good morning, Ms. Cavanaugh."

"Really now, Commander.  You're taking me flying on Saturday; surely you can call me Meredith."

AJ frowned.  Mac looked surprised.  And Harm... well, Harm just looked lost.  Finally he got his composure back.  "Looking forward to it, Ma'am."

"Did he tell you, Mac?  Harm is going to teach me to fly his plane!" Meredith gushed.

Mac grinned inwardly as she looked past Meredith at the Admiral.  'Yep.  He knows it now.  I wonder if she's baked anything for him yet.'  Mac almost giggled, but she caught herself just in time.  "That's wonderful, Meredith.  I just hope you don't get shot at."

Meredith looked askance at her friend.  "Shot at?  Why would I get shot at, Mac?"

"First time he took me flying, I got shot in the leg, almost raped, practically killed.  All in all, it was an... eventful plane ride," Mac smirked.

Meredith turned shocked eyes to Harm... who blurted out, "Not by me!  I didn't shoot her!"

Mac and AJ burst out laughing at his defensive expression.  Meredith looked back at Mac.  "It's a long story, Meredith.  I'll tell you about it sometime.  But not now.  I think the Admiral is ready for lunch."

"That I am, Colonel."  AJ took Meredith's arm.  "Shall we go?"

Wednesday, 16 October 2002
1445 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Their meeting finally at an end, AJ dismissed Harm and Sturgis.  "Mac, stay behind a minute, please," he requested.  Mac sat back down.  AJ waited until Sturgis closed the office door behind him as he left.  "Mac, you know that I'm going to depend on you to do most of the legwork on this case, I trust?  I just don't have the time to devote to this right now.  If I had my druthers, you'd be sitting first chair.  Unfortunately..."

"I understand, Sir," Mac said quietly.

"Mac, Sheffield really isn't as bad as he seemed this morning.  I didn't know he was so against women in the military until this, but..."

"Admiral, I don't think it's women in the military that he's against.  It's women in business of any kind.  'Women belong at home... barefoot and pregnant.  And if they absolutely have to work, they shouldn't be anything more than a grocery clerk or a secretary.'  I've been up against his type all my life."

AJ sighed.  "I'm sorry about his 'secretary' comment, Mac."

Mac smiled and shook her head.  "Not a problem, Sir.  Actually, growing up, that's what I wanted to be.  A secretary.  That's what my mother did, and I wanted to be like her.  It was when she left home... and left me there... that I decided being like her was the last thing I wanted."

AJ nodded.  "Certainly understandable."  He stood and walked around to the front of his desk, then he sat in the chair next to Mac.  "I'd like you to go ahead and get started on this case, Mac.  I'm not going to be able to do much with it until the weekend. Even my evenings are already filled with work."

"That's fine, Admiral.  I can get started, set up some interviews, and prepare the information for you..."

"No, Mac.  I don't mean you're going to do all of the work.  I fully expect to do as much as I can.  Why don't you lay out a plan of attack, go ahead and get started implementing it, and then we can meet over the weekend.  How's Saturday evening?"

"Saturday, Sir?" Mac confirmed.  "Don't you already have plans with Meredith for Saturday evening, Admiral?"  She was sure she'd overheard him earlier in the week ordering tickets for something.

AJ sighed.  "That's Friday night, Mac.  And she doesn't want to go anyway, so we could probably just as easily meet then.  Which would be better for you?"

Mac blinked hard.  "She doesn't want to go?" 

AJ shrugged.  "I got tickets to a play.  She says she teaches Shakespeare all week; she has no desire to sit through it on the weekend.  She'd rather go parasailing or sky diving... or have Rabb take her flying."

"I wondered how that came about, Sir."

AJ shook his head.  "Sure wish he'd felt comfortable enough to tell me 'No!' when I mentioned it to him."

Mac chuckled.  "Harm?  Say no to taking someone up in his plane?  Surely you jest."

"She doesn't just want to go for a ride, Mac.  She wants to fly the damn plane!" he explained.

"Oh my."

"Yeah.  Oh my," he groaned.

Mac decided to drop that subject. "Well, surely someone would buy the play tickets from you, Sir."

"I guess I keep hoping she'll change her mind.  'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is one of my favorites," AJ sighed.

Mac smiled to herself, 'Mine, too.'

"Okay, so you'll come by the house on Saturday night?" AJ confirmed.

"That'll be fine, Sir.  What time?"

"1900 work for you?"

"Certainly.  Shall I bring a pizza?" she asked.

AJ grinned.  "That's what you and Rabb do, isn't it?"

Mac smiled.  "Usually, Sir."

"You just bring yourself, Colonel.  I'll have food for you."

"I eat a lot when I'm working at night, Admiral," Mac warned him.

He chuckled, "From what I hear, you just eat a lot, period!"

Thursday, 17 October 2002
0900 EDT
Norfolk Brig
Norfolk, Virginia

Harm and Sturgis arrived in Norfolk to meet with their client. They were shown to the consultation room and waited until the guard brought Commander Scott Bailey to them. "Harm! Sturgis! Thanks for coming down. I can't believe all this is happening."

Harm nodded toward Scott and spoke to the guard. "Lose the cuffs, Chief," Harm ordered. The guard unlocked the handcuffs that bound Scott's wrists. "That'll be all, Chief. Wait outside, please."

"Aye, aye, Sir," the Chief agreed, stepping back through the door.

As soon as the door closed, Harm reached over and smacked Scott on the back, grabbing his hand and pumping his arm in greeting. "Scotty, it's been way too long, Man!"

"Yeah, it has, Buddy. What's it been, six... seven years?"

"More like eight," Harm said. "I don't think we've seen each other since Steve's wedding."

"Geez, that was in '93!"

Sturgis moved forward and extended his hand to Scott. "March of '93, in fact," he said as Scott shook his hand. "How've you been, Scotty?"

"Well, until this week, I've been doing great, Sturg," he replied.

"What happened, Man? How'd you become a suspect in a weapons smuggling ring?" Sturgis asked as he sat down at the table.

"I don't know," Scott said shaking his head. "I really don't know."

Harm pulled out a chair. "Have a seat, Scotty," he nodded toward another chair as he sat down, himself. "Now tell us what happened."

An hour later, Harm and Sturgis left the brig, Harm completely confident that their friend from Annapolis days was innocent of the charges. "Weapons smuggling and Scotty. They just don't mix," quipped Harm as they got in his SUV to head back to JAG.

"Harm, his story did conflict a couple of times. I don't know that he's telling us everything," disagreed Sturgis.

"You saying you think he's guilty?" Harm asked belligerently.

"No, I'm not saying that he's guilty," replied Sturgis, patiently. "I'm saying that I don't believe he's telling us everything. Maybe he's covering for someone. That's something that wouldn't be at all out of character for Scotty. He's always been protective of his friends."

Harm nodded. "Maybe. And you're right, he's always been a good friend that way."

"I think we'd better talk to his CO before we go any further. He should be able to shed some light on this."

When Harm and Sturgis left Captain Cooper's office 30 minutes later, they weren't at all sure what the Captain had told them. "Was he taking the blame for all this?" asked Harm.

"No, he wasn't. But he wasn't shirking it either," said Sturgis.

"I got the distinct feeling that the good Captain was covering himself."

"Yeah, but why? For what purpose?" asked Sturgis.

"If I don't miss my guess, he's up for a new command this year," Harm replied. "And he doesn't want the Senator messing it up for him. If the Captain comes down hard on Scotty, the Senator is sure to blame the Captain, and poof! There goes his new command."

"So you think the Captain is hiding something?"

"I think he's covering his ass, that's what I think!" said Harm.

Thursday, 17 October 2002
1655 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Harm and Sturgis walked into the bullpen and saw Mac at the water cooler. "Hey, Mac!" called Harm. "Did you ever find that..."

"Excuse me, Commander," interrupted Tiner. Then he turned to Mac, "The Admiral would like to see you in his office right away, Ma'am."

"Okay, Tiner. I'll be right there," Mac replied. She turned to Harm, "Good trip?"

He nodded. "Scotty's innocent, Mac."

"Guilty as sin!" she countered, heading for the Admiral's office.

"Prove it!" Harm yelled after her.

"We will, Flyboy! We will!"

Mac knocked on the Admiral's door. When she heard his command to enter, she opened the door and came to attention stance in front of his desk. "Colonel MacKenzie reporting as ordered, Sir."

"Have a seat, Colonel," AJ said without looking up from his papers. "I just had a call from Captain Cooper at Norfolk."

"Commander Bailey's CO, Sir?" clarified Mac.

"That's right. It seems that Rabb and Turner have already paid him a visit."

"Yes, Sir. They were at Norfolk most of the day today, Admiral."

"Any particular reason you didn't go down there with them, Colonel?"

Mac raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I had Tiner block your calendar for Monday, Admiral, so we could go to Norfolk together. I assumed that you'd want to be present to question Bailey. Was I wrong, Sir?"

AJ shook his head. "Not wrong. I'm just concerned about waiting that long to talk to him... and to the others down there. I don't want anyone surmising that we don't think we have a case... or that we think we have an airtight case."

"Admiral, if you'd prefer I conduct the interviews on my own, I don't have a problem with that. I can go to Norfolk tomorrow, Sir."

"No, I'd actually prefer to go with you, and tomorrow is out for me."

"Yes, Sir, I know. That's why I set it up for Monday. Tiner said you have to be at the Pentagon most of the day tomorrow."

AJ groaned, "Yes, I do. And I have a sneaky feeling that Senator Bailey is going to be there, too... putting the screws to Sheffield."

"Admiral, maybe it would be better if I go on down to Norfolk tomorrow anyway, Sir. We can still go back on Monday. But that way, should anyone suggest that the prosecution isn't taking the case seriously, you can tell them that I'm there..."

"No, Mac. I'm not going to coddle the SecNav or some sap of a Senator who thinks he owns the Navy. You have everything set for Monday; we'll go on Monday," he said, the decision made.

"Very well, Sir."

"In the meantime, have you found anything we can use?" he asked.

"Actually, no, Sir. There are a lot of people who've come forward on Bailey's behalf. They've all given statements that indicate he's innocent. And Harm and Sturgis seem convinced of it, too, Sir."

"That figures. There were six of them at the Academy... inseparable, from what I hear."

"Six, Admiral? Harm, Sturgis, Bailey. That's three. I would assume Luke Pendry and Keeter would be two more," Mac said as AJ nodded. "But who was the sixth?"

AJ looked straight into Mac's eyes as he said quietly, "Dianne Schonke."

Mac was glad she was sitting down. She'd almost forgotten about her look-alike... her now dead look-alike.

Mac sat in her own office some time later remembering the night on the dock in Norfolk. She and Harm watched a man fall into the water and be crushed by a ship... the very man who had murdered Dianne. And then Harm kissed her. She had relished that kiss, and hoped for more. But when he looked up and realized whom he'd kissed, she knew it wasn't meant for her. "I know. You were kissing her," she'd told him, giving him an excuse. Mac knew then that Harm would never really be able to love her; he would always see Dianne. That hadn't stopped her from falling for him, though. 'Sure am glad I got over that infatuation!' she thought to herself. 'Just wish I had before I blurted out to Sturgis how I felt last year!'

Mac's thoughts veered off to another man. A more powerful man than any she'd ever known: AJ Chegwidden. A man of strength, of courage and honor, of principals. 'Yeah, principals. That's why he didn't kiss me,' Mac thought, remembering the encounter in the Admiral's bedroom several years ago. 'He almost kissed me.' "Almost only counts in horseshoes," she mumbled aloud.

"You been playing horseshoes lately, Mac?" Harm quipped, standing in Mac's doorway.

She looked up, startled. "How long have you been there?"

"Minute or two. You looked pretty deep in thought; I didn't want to disturb you."

Mac sighed. "I was just thinking of... um..." she blushed.

"Oooh! So it wasn't work you were concentrating on, eh?" Harm teased.

"Not exactly, no," she replied, trying to busy herself to cover her embarrassment.

"What exactly, Mac?" he pressed.

"None of your business. Are you on your way out?" she changed the subject.

"Yep. You leaving soon?"

"Just let me lock up and I'll walk out with you," said Mac.

"How about we grab a bite at the new Mexican place on Columbia?" he offered. "My treat."

"Why? What are you up to?" she asked warily.

"Just want to know who you were thinking about to make you blush so, Mac," Harm teased.

Friday, 18 October 2002
0915 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

"Tiner, if the Admiral calls in, I need to speak with him," instructed Harm.

"Actually, Sir, he's talking to the Colonel right now," Tiner replied.

"Oh!  Great..." Harm headed for Mac's office. He spoke quietly, "I need to talk to him when you're finished."

Mac nodded her understanding and continued her conversation with the Admiral. About 10 minutes later, as they were ready to hang up, she remembered just in time, "Oh! Admiral, Harm said he needs to talk to you. Do you have time now, Sir?"

AJ sighed. "Not really, no. But go ahead and transfer me in there."

"Aye, Sir. See you tomorrow evening, Admiral." Mac pressed the Transfer button on her phone set and dialed Harm's extension. When he picked up, she told him she was transferring the Admiral to him, and then she hung up.

"Admiral?" Harm asked to be sure the connection was there.

"I'm here, Commander. Make it quick."

"Sir, Mac mentioned last night that you have a couple of tickets to a play for tonight. She said she didn't think you were going to be using them, and Mac really wants to go. So I thought I'd see if you'd sell them to me, Sir. And I'll surprise Mac with them."

AJ grinned in spite of himself. 'Mac mentioned the play to Harm, did she? And that I had tickets? She must really want to go.' "Sure, Harm, that would be fine; Mac will enjoy the play, I'm sure. But you can just have the tickets." As Harm began to argue, AJ continued, ignoring his protests, "I'll be tied up here most of the day, and the tickets are at my house. You'll have to swing by to get them on your way to the theatre."

"Can do, Admiral," Harm said cryptically.

"Mac just walk in?" AJ asked perceptively.

"That would be a yes, Sir."

"Don't forget, Harm. Mac doesn't like surprises very well. Be sure you tell her what you're planning. She'll be more than a little upset if you don't tell her and she's not dressed appropriately."

"Good point, Sir. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Admiral."

Harm hung up and looked at Mac. "How would you like to go to that play tonight, Mac?" he grinned.

"The play? You mean 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'?" Mac clarified. Harm nodded. "Really?" Mac looked so happy. Harm was glad he'd decided to ask the Admiral about the tickets. "Are we going with the Admiral and Meredith?"

"No, Mac. Just the two of us. We're using the Admiral's tickets."

"I still can't believe Meredith didn't want to spend a romantic evening with..." she blushed as she realized what she was about to say. She finished, "Shakespeare."

Friday, 18 October 2002
1715 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Petty Officer Tiner rushed out the door and ran down the steps. He couldn't wait for the elevator; if he did, he'd surely miss the Commander. He bolted out the front door of the building and into the parking lot, just as Harm was pulling his SUV out of its parking place. Harm braked and lowered his window. "Tiner! You trying to get yourself killed?"

"Sir! No, Sir! Just trying to catch you, Commander!" Tiner said in a rush. "Senator Bailey just called and insists that you and Commander Turner meet with him and Commander Bailey tonight, Sir."

"What?! That's absurd!"

"I'm sorry, Sir. Commander Turner is talking to the Senator now," Tiner said, nodding toward the JAG Ops windows upstairs. "The Commander asked me to catch you before you left, Sir."

Harm pulled his SUV back in the parking place and followed Tiner back inside the building. When he reached the bullpen, Sturgis was just hanging up the phone. "What is this about the Senator wanting us to go to Norfolk tonight, Sturgis?"

"He's insistent on it, Harm. Says that Scotty forgot to tell us about something, and he wants to get it off his chest. Tonight."

"Damn! I have a date with Mac tonight, man. I can't just..."

"With Mac?"

"Yeah. What's so strange about that?" asked Harm.

"I didn't know you two were actually dating," Sturgis replied.

"Well, we're not, actually. But I thought we might... you know... test the waters?"

Sturgis shook his head. "Harm, ol' buddy... you'd better tread softly where that woman is concerned."

"Why? What do you mean?"

Sturgis just shook his head. He'd promised Mac that he wouldn't tell Harm about her feelings for him. And he'd kept his word for almost a year now. He actually thought that Mac had changed in her feelings for Harm; he wasn't sure why, but he was almost sure she had. And now to find out that she'd accepted a date with Harm. 'This is worse than a roller coaster at an amusement park!'

"I guess I'd better call Mac and cancel," Harm muttered as he walked back to his office. "She is not gonna be happy." Harm picked up his phone and dialed Mac's home number. Busy.  "That's odd," he said aloud. "She has Call Waiting.  I wonder why it didn't ring through?" Harm then tried dialing Mac's cell phone. He heard it ringing through the receiver... and in the next room. "Damn! She forgot it... it's in there on her desk," he realized. He tried her home number again. Still busy.

"Let's get going, Harm. I want to get back before midnight if possible," said Sturgis.

"Couldn't reach Mac. Why don't you go on down by yourself, Sturgis? Scotty won't care if I'm not there..."

"No way, Rabb! If I go, you go. So get a move on. I'll drive."

En route to Norfolk, Harm tried calling Mac from his cell phone every 5 or 10 minutes and got a continual busy signal. "I wonder if her phone is just out of order?" he wondered aloud.

Friday, 18 October 2002
1725 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac realized when she was almost home that she'd forgotten her cell phone at the office. She decided she wouldn't need it tonight; Harm would have his. She could just swing by the office on Saturday and pick it up. She also realized that she'd forgotten to submit the final reports on three of her cases from this week. "What on earth was I thinking about, to forget all this?" she asked herself as she connected her laptop and dialed through to the office computer. "Shakespeare!" she giggled, remembering how she almost embarrassed herself last night thinking of the Admiral.

Mac kicked off the first report and went to her bedroom to strip out of her uniform. She walked back out to the table and checked on the report's progress. "I really need to get a cable modem," she mused as she saw that the phone line was connected at only 28K. "It's going to take forever at this speed," she moaned. Mac went back to her bedroom and proceeded to take her shower. When she dried off, she went back to check the progress on the computer. The first report was just finishing, so she kicked off the second and returned to the bathroom.

When 1845 rolled around and Harm had still not been able to reach Mac, he decided, "I'd better call the Admiral... let him know we won't be using the tickets." He dialed the Admiral's home.

"Chegwidden!" AJ answered on the second ring.

"Rabb here, Sir. Senator Bailey called, Admiral. Sturgis and I are on our way down to Norfolk to meet with the Senator and Scotty tonight, Sir."

"What!? What the hell happened?" AJ asked.

"I'm not really sure yet, Admiral. Something about Scott's not having told us everything and wanting to talk about it tonight. The Senator didn't really give us much of a choice, Sir."

"So I guess you won't be needing the theatre tickets, hmm?" AJ asked unnecessarily.

"No, Sir. I'm afraid not. But Admiral, I haven't been able to reach Mac. She left her cell phone at the office, and her home phone is ringing busy... I think it must be out of order.  She doesn't talk on the phone this long to anyone... not even Chloe.  And she has Call Waiting, so if she was on the phone, it wouldn't ring busy... it would ring through."

"She's probably on the computer," offered AJ.

"Sir?"

"When she's on the computer, dialed to the office anyway, she has to disable Call Waiting. That makes her phone ring busy. Mine does the same thing," AJ explained.

"I never thought of that, Sir. That's probably it."

"What time were you supposed to pick her up?"

"1930, Admiral."

"Okay, Harm. I'll be sure she knows what happened and that you won't be there," AJ offered.

Mac carefully applied her makeup. She wanted to look especially nice tonight. "Why?" she wondered. "It's just Harm." When she finished with that, she looked through her dresser drawers trying to find just the right underwear. "Where are they?" she muttered, pawing through the delicate lingerie. "Ah! Here they are!" She pulled out a skimpy black lace bra and matching thong panties. When she donned those, she went back to the computer and started the third report.

She looked through her closet and pulled out her favorite little black dress with the low scoop neck. It was simple, sophisticated, and sexy... all rolled into one. She slipped it over her head and zipped the back. She dug through her jewelry box until she found her white gold snake chain and black onyx pendant. She pulled the chain through the bale on the pendant and fastened it behind her neck. "Now for the earrings. Which ones?" she asked herself, pulling out several pairs in white metal. She decided on a pair of white gold stampato; they complemented the pendant perfectly. She preferred her arms and hands bare of jewelry with this dress. She pulled out her strappy black sandals and slipped them on her feet.

"I wonder if I'll be too cold in this dress?" she wondered aloud. "It is awfully lightweight... I guess I'll take a sweater with me, just in case I need it," she decided. "Of course, I could just use that as an excuse to get Harm to put his arm around me!" Mac stopped in her tracks. "Where the hell did that come from?" She looked in the mirror. "You decided you weren't in love with Harm... not six months ago! And he's never going to see past her to love you! So what exactly do you want from him, anyway?" she asked her reflection. "The hell if I know," she muttered under her breath.

Mac disconnected the phone line from the computer and shut it down, just as the doorbell rang. "Perfect timing! Wait a minute... 1925? Harm's never early," she realized as she went to the door. She peered through the peep hole and was surprised to see the Admiral. She pulled the door open. "Admiral! This is a surprise, Sir."

AJ stood in the doorway, unmoving. He stared at Mac; his eyes traveled down her body and back up to her face, pausing momentarily at her bust line. "You're gorgeous, Mac," he breathed... then realized to whom he was speaking. He cleared his throat and stumbled out, "I... umm... I'm sorry... You look... absolutely beautiful, Mac."

Mac smiled brightly. "Thank you, Sir. You look very nice yourself, Admiral. You and Meredith going out after all?" she asked, admiring how handsome he looked in his dark gray suit and tie.

AJ didn't answer her question right away. "Harm's been trying to call you since 1730. It seems he and Sturgis were summoned to Norfolk this evening by Senator Bailey." He watched Mac's smiling face fade into a frown.

"He's not coming?"

"I'm afraid not, Mac. I'm sorry. You were obviously looking forward to an... enchanting... evening," he said softly.

Mac sighed heavily. "I don't know why I would have been, Sir. We've never had one yet. And I'm not really sure I even want one anymore, to tell you the truth." Mac noticed AJ shift his weight from one leg to the other. Assuming he was anxious to get back to Meredith, she said, "Thank you for coming by to tell me, Sir. I'm sorry you had to go out of your way to..."

AJ interrupted her.  "Actually, Mac, I was... um... rather... hoping... you'd let me take Harm's place this evening," AJ said haltingly.

"Excuse me, Sir?"

"I'm sure my company isn't what you hoped for and it certainly won't be an enchanting evening... for you, but..." AJ pulled the theatre tickets out of his suit pocket. "Shakespeare, Milady?" he grinned.

Mac's jaw fell open. "You mean... you're taking me?" she breathed.

"If it's okay with you. Yes," he nodded.

"But... what about Meredith?"

"Meredith didn't want to go; remember?" He paused before continuing. "Do you, Mac? Do you want to go? With me?"

"Absolutely, Admiral," she breathed.

"Are you ready?" he asked her.

"Yes, Sir. Let me just get my purse and we can leave," she said, not believing this was really happening. 'Enchanting, did he say? Oh God, this has to be an enchantment; It can't be real! I'm going out with the Admiral!' she thrilled. Now she was especially glad she'd taken such pains with her toilette this evening. Mac didn't even think about her sweater lying on the bed in her room.

Friday, 18 October 2002
2215 EDT
The Lansburgh Theatre
Washington, DC

Mac sat next to AJ, listening intently to the actors. Helena was speaking now:

"Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born?
When at your hands did I deserve this scorn?
Is't not enough, is't not enough, young man,
That I did never, no, nor never can,
Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye,
But you must flout my insufficiency?
Good troth, you do me wrong, good sooth, you do,
In such disdainful manner me to woo.
But fare you well: perforce I must confess
I thought you lord of more true gentleness.
O, that a lady, of one man refused.
Should of another therefore be abused!"

As Helena left the stage, Lysander stepped forward and spoke:

"She sees not Hermia. Hermia, sleep thou there:
And never mayst thou come Lysander near!
For as a surfeit of the sweetest things
The deepest loathing to the stomach brings,
Or as tie heresies that men do leave
Are hated most of those they did deceive,
So thou, my surfeit and my heresy,
Of all be hated, but the most of me!
And, all my powers, address your love and might
To honour Helen and to be her knight!"

Lysander exited the stage as Hermia awakened.

"Help me, Lysander, help me! do thy best
To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast!
Ay me, for pity! what a dream was here!
Lysander, look how I do quake with fear:
Methought a serpent eat my heart away,
And you sat smiling at his cruel pray.
Lysander! what, removed? Lysander! Lord!
What, out of hearing? gone? no sound, no word?
Alack, where are you speak, an if you hear;
Speak, of all loves! I swoon almost with fear.
No? then I well perceive you all not nigh
Either death or you I'll find immediately."

The curtain fell after the second act and the lights came up quickly. AJ turned to find Mac brushing away tears from her cheeks. "Mac? You okay?" he asked, concerned, pulling out his handkerchief and handing it to Mac.

"Thank you, Sir," she nodded, accepting the offered piece of cloth. "I forgot about that scene," she hiccupped. "It hit a little too close to home this time."

AJ nodded, thinking she must be referring to her last year's wedding fiasco. "Would you like something to drink?" he asked. She shook her head. "They have non-alcoholic beverages, Mac. Probably anything you'd want. You sure?"

"Maybe a gingerale?" she asked.

AJ turned surprised eyes to her as he extended his hand to help her stand. "I've never known you to order a soda before, Mac. Just tonic water with lime."

"I don't usually, Admiral." She did not want to tell him that she needed the gingerale to settle her stomach. She really had the butterflies tonight.  "Where do we go?" she asked, hoping to avoid further discussion about her choice of beverage. She was sure he couldn't possibly know what she was thinking of as being "too close to home" in that last scene. 'Surely he thinks I meant Mic and Harm. God, I hope he thinks I meant Mic and Harm! If he has a clue that I meant him and Harm...'

"It's right through these doors, Mac."

"But that's not where everyone else is going." Then it dawned on her. "This is an exclusive reception room, isn't it, Sir?"

AJ nodded. "Comes with the seats, Mac. When I see a Shakespeare play, I want to be able to really see it. All the nuances the players put into their acting... and I want to hear the quiet asides they almost whisper sometimes."

"Our seats are what they call the Dress Circle, aren't they?"

AJ nodded again. "That's right."

"I usually sit in the nosebleed section," she grinned. "I'll have to come with you more often." AJ turned surprised eyes to Mac and she blushed furiously, realizing what she'd just said. "Oh, Admiral! I didn't mean... I was just..."

AJ laughed and put his arm lightly around Mac's waist guiding her to the refreshment table. "Not a problem, Mac. I wish you could come with me more often," he whispered for her hearing only. Mac felt a tingle run down her spine at his words.

When they finished their drinks and had visited the private rest rooms, AJ and Mac returned to their seats. Rather than sitting immediately, however, they leaned against the back of the seats in front of them and looked around the theatre. "See anyone you recognize, Sir?" she asked.

AJ shook his head. "Nope. Rather unusual, too. I usually run into at least a dozen people I know when I'm here. You see anyone you know?"

"Not a soul, Admiral. But you know, actually I did see someone in the ladies' room I think I should have known. I've seen her before, I do know that. I just couldn't quite place her. She looked at me the same way."

"Maybe it'll come to you..." AJ suggested. The lights began to dim, so AJ and Mac turned around and sat down. As Act III began, Mac felt a sudden chill and shivered. AJ noticed and leaned over to his right.. "You okay?" he whispered.

"I should have had that gingerale without ice, I guess. Now I'm cold," Mac said as she crossed her arms and rubbed them lightly. "Forgot my sweater." AJ quietly removed his suit jacket and put it around Mac's shoulders. She leaned to the left toward him to make it easier for him, and then she pulled the jacket close to her. "Thank you, Sir," she whispered.

She could see AJ nod to her, but he didn't speak again. The play continued, and Mac was lost in the dream world that was Shakespeare. As Titania's fairies cast their spell on the lovers, Mac sighed, bringing a quiet chuckle from a man sitting on her right. She blushed in the darkness and felt AJ's right hand come to rest on her left knee. She looked up at him and smiled.

"That's my favorite part, too," he whispered in her ear.

Mac felt his breath in her ear and down her neck, and it sent another chill down her spine. She pulled his jacket closer and breathed deeply to calm her emotions. But that only served to stir them more as she smelled AJ's scent on his jacket. She realized that his hand was still on her knee. 'Should I?' she wondered. 'Oh why not... just do it!' And Mac moved her left hand to rest on his hand. She felt him stiffen for just a moment, and then he relaxed.

As Act V began, AJ turned his hand and clasped Mac's with his, truly forgetting whom he was with. He began moving his fingers unconsciously, tracing patterns on her palm and skimming the length of her fingers. His mind was concentrating on the play, but his body was concentrating on his actions, not even thinking about whose hand it was he was playing with.

When the play concluded and the audience rose in a standing ovation, AJ was surprised to find himself holding Mac's hand... and even more shocked to find his pants were most uncomfortable. 'Geez! How the hell am I going to walk out of here?' he groaned to himself. 'I sure hope Mac doesn't realize my problem. Shouldn't have even been holding her hand... what the hell was that about?'

As the others in the theatre began to file out, AJ turned to Mac. "You in a hurry?" he asked.

She shook her head as she removed his coat from her shoulders and handed it back to him. As their hands brushed, they looked into each other's eyes. "Thank you for the jacket, Sir," she breathed.

"You're welcome," he answered softly. "I'm surprised you didn't get cold earlier in that dress. It's lovely, but there's so little of it," he teased lightly, smiling at her.

"Well, if it isn't Admiral Chegwidden with his Chief of Staff!" a familiar voice said from the next row. "This is a surprise!"

Mac and AJ turned to see Clayton Webb with his mother. "Hello, Webb," Mac said, trying to smile... and now remembering where she'd seen the woman from the ladies' room before. 'Webb's mother!'

"Good evening, Webb. Porter, nice to see you again. It's been a long time," said AJ gallantly.

"Yes, it has, AJ. You're looking well," Porter offered. Then she turned to Mac. "I thought I recognized you earlier in the powder room, my dear. But I wasn't sure..."

"I had the same thought, Mrs. Webb," Mac smiled. "I even told the Admiral that I thought I should have recognized you."

Webb interrupted the women and addressed AJ. "I didn't know you two were seeing each other."

"You know better than that, Webb," Mac snapped at him.

"Do I?" he drawled.

Porter Webb looked from her son to Mac and then AJ. 'I wonder why he's baiting them so?'

"Yes, you do," AJ added emphatically.

Webb nodded. "Yes, you're right, actually... I do. And I must say you've certainly not given anyone anything to gossip about tonight. Except the mere fact that you two are here together. But you've certainly kept your distance and your hands to yourselves. Pretty amazing feat, too... with Mac in that dress."

"And you would know that, how, Webb?" Mac asked, annoyed, but concerned.

"Saw you as you came in tonight. Then as you sat there waiting for the play to begin. And during the intermission. Waiting for the second half to start. And now," Webb detailed. "Nope. Nothing... well, except that you ended up with his jacket on," he winked at Mac.

"I was cold. Forgot my sweater at home," she explained, glad he didn't know they'd held hands through the last act.

"Shame to have had to cover the dress up anyway. You really do look magnificent tonight, Mac. So, where's Harm? I thought he was your date tonight?"

"He and Sturgis are in Norfolk this evening. Rather sudden trip," she rolled her eyes.

"What... so he sent the Admiral in his stead? What's that... like sending his father to take out his special girl just to be sure you don't go with someone else?" Webb laughed, shaking his head.

His mother grinned at AJ. She had noticed what her son evidently had not.  'Father?' she thought. 'Not quite. More like sending the more experienced, far more attractive and eligible older brother! Bad move, Commander Rabb!'

The four of them left the theatre together and walked to the valet parking area. "So, are you stopping anywhere for dessert, AJ?" asked Webb. He turned to the valet, "Blue Mercedes SL55 Convertible. Virginia plates."

AJ looked at Mac. "Would you like anything, Mac?" He then turned to the other valet, "Black Cadillac Escalade. Virginia plates."

"Clayton has promised me Café La Ruche tonight. Come join us, won't you?" Porter offered graciously.

Mac smiled. "Truthfully, Admiral, I'd love to go for some dessert. But I think..."

AJ interrupted her. "Wonderful. I've always enjoyed Café La Ruche myself. We'll meet you there, Webb."

"But, Sir..." Mac started to protest.

"Mac, if you'd prefer to go home, that's one thing. But let me worry about anyone gossiping about seeing us together, okay?" AJ said seriously. "You're an officer in my command. My girlfriend wasn't able to come tonight. Your... umm... well..." he stumbled. "Harm wasn't able to come tonight. So we attended the play together. Very simple explanation."

"But Café La Ruche, Sir?" whispered Mac as the valets pulled up with both vehicles.

Continue to Part 2