A/N: Two months have passed since that piece of, um, fiasco called NCIS LA aired. With the two shows in the spring and the one in September, I can only say there are three hours of my life I'll never get back.

Honestly, I wished they had never appeared on the show, considering the screwed up ending we were left with. Since then, it's been hard for me to even think about JAG, much less write about it. I'm furious with the writers, angry with the characters, and yes, even with the actors who agreed to such a farce.

Minimindbender keeps encouraging me to believe "NCIS never happened." Can't quite do that but, the other day, a story idea finally came to mind. This one will be short—probably two or three chapters at the most. And I do plan one day to finish "Missing" and "Saving Mac."

This is set during the episode "Touch and Go." Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Don't own them. Just fixing the original writer's screw ups.

Engaged

Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie stepped into the elevator of JAG Headquarters, hoping she could reach her office without being seen. She needed time to collect her thoughts before facing her friends and coworkers—especially her tall, handsome partner. Her best friend.

Okay, so she'd had time. After all, she'd known since Saturday night. She should have been prepared before now. Mac absently rubbed the bare finger of her right. After several months, it felt strange not to be wearing the ring. The fact that it was now on her left hand hadn't registered yet.

She was relieved to see the bullpen was quiet—only a few staff members had arrived. Gunny, the squared away marine, was already at his desk. She greeted him as she passed by, then went into her office and closed the door. Harriet was due back today, and once she heard the news, everyone in headquarters would know.

Mac sat at her desk, waiting for her computer to boot up. This should be a happy day. After all, it wasn't often when a girl got engaged. Most brides-to-be would be ecstatic about telling her friends.

So why aren't I?

Mac contemplated the answer. Her engagement to Chris had been short-lived as they eloped shortly afterward. It wasn't like she had any friends to share the news with anyway. The marriage, of course, was a failure.

That's why I'm edgy. I don't want a repeat of what happened before. I don't want to have another failed marriage.

Failed marriage? Not this time. She'd been eighteen and drunk when she married Chris Ragle. She was older, wiser, and more mature this time. And Mic was a good man. He would give her everything she'd always wanted—marriage, a home, children.

So what was her problem?

Nerves. What else could it be?

She was jarred from her thoughts by a knock on her office door. "Enter."

Harriet Sims smiled as she walked through the door. "Good morning, ma'am."

"Harriet! Welcome back." Mac noticed that the young officer looked more like her old self. Losing a child hadn't been easy for her, but she seemed to have made significant progress.

"Thank you, ma'am. I'm ready to get back to work. Gunny tells me you have a lot of files you need help organizing."

"Yes, I do, thanks. Give me a few minutes to get them together, and I'll bring them to your desk."

A few minutes later, she walked into the bullpen with a stack of files in her arms. "Are you sure you're up for this, Harriet?"

"Absolutely. I need to keep occupied."

Mac placed the files on Harriet's desk, then stopped at the sound of a familiar voice.

"Come on. I'll introduce you around."

Harm. I'm not ready for this. Not prepared to face him.

If only she'd been able to escape to her office… Too late now. She turned in the direction of his voice and saw him standing next to a tall, attractive brunette.

"Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, Lt. Jg. Harriet Sims, this is Commander Caitlyn Pike. Kate is TDY from Naval Legal Service Office in San Diego."

When Mac reached to shake the other woman's hand, Harriet gasped.

"You took the ring off." Ever observant Harriet.

"Um." Unable to find the words, Mac held up her left hand.

Harriet shrieked. "You're engaged! Oh my gosh! Congratulations."

It was hard to read Harm's expression. "When were you going to tell us?"

"I was waiting for the right moment."

"Well, if this is it, I'll go spread the news. Excuse me." Harriet buzzed off in the direction of the first person who would listen.

"Great news." Harm's tone of voice wasn't exactly joyful.

Mac looked at Harm, trying to read his thoughts, then remembered Commander Pike. "I'm sorry."

"No, please. Congratulations," Kate said.

"So, how long are you going to be here?"

"About a week. Code twenty JAG MIS revisions."

"I worked on that about a week. I could not figure out the software."

"Computers are my specialty."

"Fastest fingers in the Navy." Harm said.

"And when did you give up the title?" Kate laughed.

Harm's lack of an answer spoke volumes. It was apparent they'd known one another. Just how well was the question.

"So you two worked together."

"I was with JAG for about six months, then went to NCIS for a while. I've been on the move ever since."

"Upward," Harm said. You two have a lot in common. Accelerated promotion."

"Well, we should have coffee or something."

"I'd love to," Kate said.

The admiral walked up and began speaking to Kate. "Think about my offer. I could use another good trial lawyer." He turned to Mac. "Colonel. I just heard. I'm very happy for you."

"Thank you, sir."

She should be happy. But as she watched Harm and Kate walk away together, she couldn't help but wonder why she felt so empty inside.