Title: Daddy's Little Girl No More Author: Nicole Category: S, R [Harm/Mac] Rating: PG-language Spoilers: anything is fair game Disclaimer: if I owned it, I wouldn't have written this story, so the very fact that this story exists proves that JAG isn't mine. Summary: set 15 years after my fic, 'Daddy's Little Girl,' Mac goes to a high school reunion. Feedback: desired Archive: Ex Libris and BTL. Any others, please ask first. Author's notes: I'm finally getting around to the requested continuation of 'Daddy's Little Girl.' Hope this lives up! ('Daddy's Little Girl' is available at Ex Libris and BTL.) Also note that I don't know how big Yuma is, and I don't know what the name of a high school in Yuma is called, so for the purposes of this story, Yuma is quite small. I also have no clue how long Mac has been sober, so I'm just guessing. Mac stared at the letter in her hands as memories crashed around her. She saw long forgotten faces and heard long forgotten voices. + + + Daniel: "Get real, Sarah! Why would I want to go out with *you*?" Dana: "She's such a bitch!" Madison: "I heard that she tries to sleep with anyone! Even Ethan!" Aron: "Sarah, just because I'm fucking you doesn't mean I want the whole school to know! There's no *way* I'd actually be seen in public with you!" Jessica: "…she's just like her dad. The town drunk!" + + + Mac watched with unseeing eyes as her fist tightened and crumpled the paper in it. Suddenly there was a knock at her door, snapping her out of it. "Just a minute!" she called, remembering at Harm as going to come over for pizzas and case files. Placing the paper on the coffee table, Mac stood and walked to the door, letting Harm in. "Hey, Mac," Harm greeted as he entered the apartment and sat down on the couch. "Order the pizza yet?" Mac nodded. "Yup." "The usual half and half?" Mac grinned. "Nope." Harm jerked his head up to stare at Mac, and she explained, "I thought we'd try something new. So I ordered a grilled chicken deluxe." Harm thought about it for a minute. "Yeah, okay, that sounds fine." As Mac went into the kitchen to get Harm something to drink, Harm noticed the paper on her coffee table. "Hey, Mac, you have a high school reunion coming up?" Mac entered the livingroom again, two bottled waters in her hands. "Yeah. I don't know if I'll go, though… Harm? If I do go, will you come will me?" Harm turned a confused look on Mac. "Why? I mean, sure, I'll go, but why do you want me to?" Mac fidgeted under Harm's gaze, then sighed. "I don't know if I can handle going back there and seeing everybody again. They all knew me as Sarah, the drunk slut kid of Joe MacKenzie." Harm put his arm around Mac in a small hug. "I'd be honored to go with you, Marine." A month later, Yuma High School, Arizona… Mac shifted nervously from foot to foot as she stood just inside the door of the gymnasium at her old high school. Harm saw Mac's unease and put a comforting hand on her shoulder, calming her considerably. Mac flashed a grateful smile at Harm and ventured further into the crowd, holding tightly to Harm's hand. "Sarah?" Mac turned at the incredulous voice next to her. "Wow! I didn't think you'd be sober enough to come tonight!" Mac gritted her teeth and smiled, looking like she was about to attack the diminutive red head. "Hello, Beverly," she greeted. "So, who's the hottie? Drinking buddy or fuck-buddy?" Harm put his arm around Mac's waist and pulled her close to him. "Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. I'm Sarah's… well, almost-fiance. She hasn't given me an answer, yet." Beverly turned her nose up at the two. "Oh," she said and walked away. Mac turned to Harm. "Harm!" she exclaimed quietly. "What the hell was that?!" Harm shrugged sheepishly. "I didn't like what she was saying to you, so I figured I'd try to get her to leave you alone. I was going to say that you were my fiancée, but you're not wearing a ring, so…" Harm trailed off uncertainly. Mac smiled, and flung her arms around Harm. "Oh, I could kiss you!" she exclaimed, not realizing what she had said. "Sarah!" another female voice exclaimed, and Mac braced herself. "Oh, God, I can't believe you came!" the woman came to stand in front of Harm and Mac and smiled warmly at them. Mac frowned for a moment, trying to place the woman, then recognition dawned and she smiled. "Olivia! Wow, you look different!" Olivia smiled and placed a hand over her rounded belly. "Yeah. My fourth. Aidan and I married after college, and now here we are! But you, you really look different." Mac shrugged. "No red ringed eyes. It makes the difference." Olivia laughed. "It's not just that you're sober. You have that look." Mac frowned and Harm started to pay attention to the conversation. "What look?" "You know… that look that says, 'I'm in love and I want to shout it from the rooftops'!" Olivia grinned. "So, are the two of you married? And who is this guy who has won your heart, Sarah?" Mac and Harm exchanged a look before Mac answered, "This is Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. And no, we're not married. I haven't given him an answer yet." Olivia shook her head. "What on Earth are you waiting for, girl?!" Just then someone caught Olivia's eye and she begged away. "So, Mac, who was that?" Mac grinned. "Olivia Daniels, although now I think she's Olivia Bennett. She was one of the few people who were nice to me. The only other people were drinking buddies." Harm nodded. "Hey, you want something to drink?" Mac shook her head. "It's probably spiked. Thanks, though." "No problem." Soon the small group of 28 classmates and their dates was organized and sitting in a large circle. Each person quickly said a little something about themselves, introducing themselves for those that didn't know them, and talking a little about their job and where their life was at. Finally Mac came up. "Hi, I'm Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, United States Marine Corps. I work in the JAG Corps, at JAG Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. I've been sober for thirteen years, " Mac held up Harm's hand. "and this is my fiance, Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr." Harm's eyebrows rose. "So you've accepted my proposal, Sarah?" Mac froze. "Yes, Harm," she said softly, gazing into his eyes, "I have." Harm grinned and pulled Mac into a passionate kiss, surprising both of them, as they both knew that they were not in a relationship with each other. A man at the other side of the circle snorted. "You really think we'll believe you've changed? You're probably still the same slut, Sarah, screwing anything with a dick!" Harm started to get up, intending to go for the man, when Mac placed her hand on his arm, calming him. "I guess that would explain," Mac retorted, "why I'm not trying to screw you, wouldn't it, Darren?" There were a few chuckles around the circle as Darren turned red. "And for your information, I have changed. I'm sober, and engaged. I'd say that's a far cry from where I was the last time I was here, wouldn't you?" "You go, Girl!" Olivia exclaimed. Jessica, beside Darren, shrugged. "It doesn't matter if you've changed, Sarah. You're still 'Daddy's little girl, so corrupt, so tainted'. Remember that, Sarah?" she taunted. Mac smiled. "I remember spitting vodka on your clothes, if that's what you mean. I also remember something about you getting grounded because your parents thought you had been drinking?" Jessica glared daggers at Mac. "I wouldn't be so proud of that, Sarah. That's just the kind of attitude that gets someone on the revenge list." Mac waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, please," she said airily. "Harm and I have handled getting shot at, ejecting from a MiG in Russia, a psychotic stalker, a psychopath, an air strike, a mine field, and a hell of a lot more! We can handle your petty revenge." Olivia was the first to speak as everybody picked their jaws up off the floor. "Okay, Girl, tell! What the hell do you *do*?!" Mac and Harm exchanged smiles and spent the rest of the evening entertaining the group with tales of their adventures. Mac's apartment, two days later… Mac opened and door and immediately flopped onto the couch, a smile on her face. "Oh, God, I can't believe it went so well!" Harm smiled and sat in the chair next to the couch. "Except for a few moments, I'd say you were a hit, Marine." Mac sat up and smiled at Harm. "Only because of you, Flyboy. I couldn't have done it without you. Thanks." "No problem, Mac. You needed me, so I was there for you. I always will be." Mac smiled back at Harm, then fidgeted. "Um, Harm? Why… um… why did you go along with the engagement thing? I mean, you know… why did you have to make a big thing about it?" Harm moved beside Mac on the couch and took her hands. "Sarah, there's something I have to tell you…"