A/N: Now for the wrap-up. No more Brumby bashing in this one. (I'll save that for another story.) As for this chapter, I'll just say the admiral was in a generous mood.

New Beginnings

Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie walked into JAG headquarters on Monday with a lighter heart than she'd had in months. She held her head high as she walked through the bullpen, knowing the was the object of several curious glances. No doubt the incident with Mic on Friday had been the subject of the rumor mill.

Let them wonder. Not that she cared that anyone knew she'd broken off with him. If anyone asked, she'd tell them.

Fortunately, she hadn't seen or heard anything from the Aussie over the weekend. At Harm's insistence, she'd stayed at his place over the weekend, only going back to her apartment last night. She assured him that if Brumby showed up, she was prepared.

Mac and Harm agreed to keep their new relationship a secret for the time being to everyone except the admiral. The last thing either of them wanted was for others to think they'd gotten together on the rebound. They decided that showing up for work together wasn't the best way to keep a secret.

Mac couldn't help but smile as she looked toward his dark office. Harm. Her flyboy. The man of her dreams.

She couldn't help but remember Kate's question from a few days earlier. So much had changed since then.

"Good morning, Colonel. How are you today?" Victor Galindez was a squared away marine who would never pry into a superior officer's private life. However, Mac knew he was concerned, having been witness to Mic's outrageous behavior on Friday.

"I'm fine, Gunny. Everything is all right."

"Good to know, Ma'am."

Mac went into her office to begin preparing for the day. It was thirty minutes later before her partner walked into the bullpen. Partner. Now in every sense of the word. Mac liked the sound of that.

He stopped at her office door. "Morning, Mac. Got a few minutes to discuss the Crawford court martial?"

"Um, sure. Close the door."

"You okay?"

Mac smiled. "I'm doing great. There's only one thing right now that would make me better right now."

"What's that?"

"A kiss."

Harm grinned. "As much as I want to, that not the best way to keep our relationship a secret."

"Darn. You're right. Want to go to lunch together? I guess that's not keeping things a secret either."

"We could have a working lunch. I'd even take you to Beltway Burgers if it means spending time with you."

"Is that a promise, Flyboy?"

Harm was about to answer when Mac's phone rang. "Lt. Colonel Mackenzie… Yes, Tiner?... He does?... The commander is in my office. I'll tell him. Thanks."

"What's up?"

"The admiral wants to see us in ten."

"Think he might have an assignment for us?"

"Could be. Guess we should tell him about us, although I don't think he'll be surprised after he told me on Friday that I needed to talk to you."

"Right. Let me put my things in my office, then we'll go."

Ten minutes later, they were seated in Chegwidden's office.

"Commander, Colonel, I trust you had a pleasant weekend."

"Yes, Sir."

"We did, Sir," Mac said.

Chegwidden smiled. "Can I assume you took my advice, Colonel?"

"Yes, I did."

"And?"

Mac glanced at Harm, who nodded his approval.

"We worked things out, Admiral."

"Good. Now, until the two of you decide to make things permanent, I see no reason to discuss reassigning one of you. I trust you'll not use the office as a place for a lover's spat."

"No, Sir," they said in unison.

"And I gather you'll be discrete when I send you on out of town assignments?"

"Yes, Sir."

"We will, Sir."

"All right. Then I'm sending you out today. Expect to be gone for a couple of weeks. You leave Dulles at 1530. Use the morning to hand off your current cases, then you both can secure early to go home and pack."

Mac started to interject that she always kept a seabag packed, but the admiral held up his hand.

"This case is highly sensitive and therefore classified. Not to be discussed with anyone in the office."

"Will we be working with Webb, Sir?" Harm asked.

"Not on your life, Commander." Chegwidden handed them a folder. When they looked inside, their eyes widened in surprise.

"Any questions?"

"No, Sir."

"Thank you, Sir."

"Very well. Dismissed."

Two Weeks Later
Cayman Islands

The scent of sandalwood permeated the air as the soft glow of candlelight cast shadows around the room. A bottle of non-alcoholic champagne sat chilling next to the bed. Harm took one last look to make sure everything was as he wanted it. Unknown to Mac, he'd ordered room service—a steak with all the trimmings for Mac, pasta primavera for himself.

Satisfied, he stepped onto the balcony of the condo where Mac stood looking toward the moonlit beach and ocean.

"Hey, Ninja Girl," Harm said, as he walked up behind her. He put his arms around her waist. She leaned against him, and he nuzzled her neck, finding that sensitive spot behind her ear. His hands slipped beneath her blouse and cupped her breasts.

"Mmmm. That's nice."

"I'll do more than that."

"Is that a promise?"

He took her hand and led to the bedroom.

Mac glanced around the room. "You did all this?"

"Thought we'd celebrate since it's our last night here."

Later, the two lovers sat in an oversized jacuzzi tub.

"I could get used to this," Harm said.

"The condo, this tub, or being together?"

"All of the above."

"Well," Mac said, "We won't have a condo or a jacuzzi like this, but I do have a tub. And I plan on us being together for a long time."

"Long time? How about forever?"