Disclaimer: JAG does not belong to me…but I did just graduate, so it'd make a great graduation gift…hint hint! :o)

A/N: This is my first attempt at a JAG fan fic, so tell me what you think…I'm open to all criticism (as long as it's constructive of course!). Also, it begins after the episode Rendezvous and will take place roughly during the beginning of Season 3

1500 ZULU

JAG HEADQUARTERS

FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

"Good morning, Bud," Mac walked into the office Monday morning. It was everyone's first full day back after the Holst case in Norfolk, and she was glad to be back.

"Good morning, ma'am."

"How was your evening with Ensign Sims?"

"It was nice."

"Nice, eh?" she raised an eyebrow, "So you did the picnic on the beach under the stars and then what?"

"Red light, Major," he gave her a slightly embarrassed smile.

"Fine Lieutenant," she laughed, "Has Commander Rabb come in yet"

"Not yet, ma'am, but there is someone waiting for you in your office."

"This early?" Mac glanced through the window of her office to see a young woman, "Who is she?"

"Said her name was Dani Korsakoff."

"Thanks, Bud."

"You're welcome ma'am," he returned to his desk.

Mac stepped into her office to see Dani seated to the side reading. She had shoulder length brown hair, and based on her pasture and preppy clothing, Mac could tell that she came from money of some sort.

"Major MacKenzie," she set down her book and stood up, "It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you, Miss Korsakoff," she shook her hand.

"Call me Dani, please."

"All right, Dani," Mac leaned on the edge of her desk, "What can I do for you?"

"I'm not really sure how to get into this, but is your father Joseph MacKenzie?"

"Yes," her face darkened, "Why?"

"He's my father too."

"You must be mistaken," she shook her head but knew the young woman's words could very well be true. When Joe went out on payday, anything was possible, "You have the wrong man."

"No, I do not," she handed Mac a file folder, which she took warily, "My father is the same former marine as yours."

"Where do you fit in?"

"My mother, Sophie, went to Red Rock Mesa with some friends for a vacation. One of them was dating an officer, so they went to the nearby N.C.O. club," Dani explained, "She was drunk and slept with him."

"If they were both drunk, how can you be sure it was him?" Mac clung to the chance that Dani was mistaken. She had no illusions about the relationship between her parents, but there was still a part of her who wanted to believe that there was something real in their marriage.

"She must have remembered his name, because I found it in one of her old journals," she gestured to the file folder, "I had a lab do a DNA test to confirm it."

"How did you get my blood?" she scanned the file, recognizing her name on the medical document.

"Marine Corps files."

"Those are confidential," Dani simply shrugged and Mac shook her head, "I don't want to know."

"That's probably best," she cracked a smile in an attempt to break the uneasy tension, "You being a JAG lawyer and all."

"Maybe," they fell into an awkward silence that was thankfully interrupted by a knock at the door, "Come in."

"Morning Mac," Harm walked in with a cocky smile.

"Good morning," she gestured to Dani, "This is Dani Korsakoff."

"Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb," he shook her hand, "Nice to meet you."

"Same here," Dani smiled, not really sure what to say or how her sister wanted to handle spreading the news.

"You ready for court?" he turned back to Mac.

"I always am, why?"

"Cozen Case."

"Yeah, sorry."

"We have to be in court by 1030."

"I've been a little scattered this morning," she glanced at Dani then went behind her desk to organize her briefcase, "Dani's a friend of the family and she surprised me this morning."

"Um, Mac," he looked down at his watch, "It's--"

"1021," she finished without looking up, "It takes five minutes to get there, and I'll be ready in one, so we're fine."

"Whatever you say."

"Let's go," she snapped closed her briefcase and looked at Dani, "I have to work, but we have a lot of stuff to talk about, so can you stick around?"

"Yeah, I'm in town all week. I can even wait here until your done in court."

"If you don't mind--"

"No, I have book, so I'll be fine."

"Okay, good," she headed to the door with Harm, "Just ask Lieutenant Roberts if you need anything."

"Will do," Dani sat down on the chair in the corner, "Bye."

"Bye," Mac tossed over her shoulder walking out with Harm. On their way to the elevators they ran into Bud, "Hey Bud, Dani is going to wait in my office until I get back, so could you help her if she needs anything?"

"Sure thing, ma'am."

"Thanks, Bud," Mac said and they continued on their way.

"So Dani's a family friend?" Harm asked.

"Um, yeah."

"Did she know your parents?" he tried to get some information out of her. He could tell that something was going on between the two women and wanted to know what it was.

"No."

"Then how is she a family friend?"

"She's my sister," she whispered fiercely, punching the elevator button.

"I didn't know you had a sister."

"Neither did I," she paused, "Dani's my half sister."

"By your father?" he guessed and she nodded slightly as they walked into the empty elevator, "Do you know if she's contacted him?"

"I didn't get a chance to ask," Mac stared at the lights blinking out the elevator's movement, "She has this whole dossier on me and I'm still trying to process it all."

"I can handle the Cozen case if you need a break."

"No, I'm fine," she led the way out of the elevator.

"All right, Major," he held open the door to the courtroom, "But if you need out just say the word."

"Thanks Harm, but I'm fine," she repeated as if trying to convince herself.

"Excuse me, Miss Korsakoff," Bud knocked before entering Mac's office.

"Lieutenant Roberts, correct?" Dani set down her book and stood up.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Please, call me Dani."

"Then call me Bud."

"Will do," she smiled, "What's up?"

"I was heading to the mess for lunch and wanted to know if you wanted to come."

"Yes, I'm starving," she grabbed her purse.

"You should have said something sooner," he held open the door for you, "I would have taken you."

"I didn't want to interrupt your work."

"I was just doing some research for Commander Rabb."

"You're not a lawyer?" she sounded surprised, "Sorry, that was rude."

"Don't worry about it, ma'am," Bud smiled, "I'm in law school."

"I'll be attending Yale Law in the fall."

"What a coincidence," he said as they walked into the elevator.

"Nice work counselor," Mac congratulated Harm as the courtroom cleared.

"Thanks, you too," he noticed her lingering at the defense table, "Are you ready?"

"Um, yeah," she followed him out the doorway and he steered her in the direction opposite of the elevators, "Harm, where are we going?"

"Outside," he held open the door for her, "Unless you want to go straight up to the office."

"No, outside is good," she stepped through the open doorway and they began walking through the gardens surrounding JAG headquarters.

"Penny for you thoughts, Major?" Harm broke the peaceful silence in which they were walking.

"When I was growing up, I always wanted a sister. Someone who could be my best friend and keep all my secrets, you know?" she stopped walking and looked at him, "And now I do. I should be thrilled, shouldn't I?"

"You don't have to 'be' anything," he told her and she rolled her eyes, "I mean it, Mac. Between Holst and now Dani, this past week has been an emotional roller coaster for you."

"And that's me," she snapped at him without meaning too, "Always ruled by my emotions, right?"

"That's not what I mean."

"Well, that's not what it sounded like," she folded her arms, knowing that she should not be lashing out at Harm, but could not stop herself, "It sounded like you harassing me over my feelings, about which, I might add, you know nothing!"

"I know you're upset Mac, but I'm not the one you're really mad at."

"Really?" she knew he was right, but began walking away, "Because I'm pretty sure you're the one I'm mad at!"

"That's it, Mac, just walk away," he called after her.

"Leave it alone, Harm," she stopped briefly to look back at him, "Just leave it alone!"

"Whatever you say, Major," he muttered to himself, watching her go back inside.

"I really liked last week's episode where they brought back Max Fenig, even if he ended up dead," Dani told Bud as they walked off the elevators after their lunch. During the course of the meal, the pair realized they shared a mutual love for the television series The X-Files.

"Me too, I love continuity in a series," Bud led her back toward Mac's office, "Although I could do without the cliff hangers."

"Oh, I know," she looked over to Bud's desk and guessed the identity of the blond woman standing next to it, "Is that Harriet?"

"Yes, it is," he said a little nervously and walked over to greet her, "Ensign Sims, what are you doing here?"

"I got off early and wanted to see if you felt like a late lunch," she explained.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I already ate."

"I can see that," Harriet looked pointedly at Dani, who smiled weakly.

"Oh yeah," Bud began introductions, "This is Dani Korsakoff, a friend of Major MacKenzie, and this is Ensign Harriet Sims."

"Nice to meet you," Dani shook her hand, "I'm sorry I kept Bud from your lunch, Major MacKenzie was in court and he offered to take me down to the mess."

"Don't worry about it and call me Harriet," Harriet smiled genuinely, having confirmed that Bud was not being unfaithful, "How do you know the major?"

"She's my half-sister," Mac joined them, her answer surprising even herself. Still irritated by her argument with Harm and not wanting to explain everything, she turned to Dani, "You want to get out of here?"

"Sure, I just need to get my stuff from your office."

"Good let's go," Mac led the way back to her office. Dani went inside to gather her things and Mac went to speak with the admiral.

"I thought you said she was just a friend of the Major," Harriet looked at Bud.

"That's what Dani told me," he watched them enter Mac's office, "She said their parents were old friends."

"Well, they'd have to be," Harriet smirked slightly.

"Hey, Bud," Harm walked in, "Have you seen Mac?"

"She's in with the admiral but she's on her way out, sir," he told him, "Commander, did you know that the major had a sister?"

"No, Bud, I didn't, and up until this morning, neither did the major," he watched Dani emerge from Mac's office.

"Thanks again for taking me to lunch," Dani joined them, shaking hands with Bud then turning to Harriet, "And I sorry about spoiling your plans."

"Don't worry about it," Harriet shook her hand, "It was nice meeting you."

"Same here," Dani smiled and turned to Harm, "It was a pleasure meeting you as well, Commander."

"Any friend of Mac's is a friend of mine," he looked up to see Mac approaching.

"Thank you for taking her to lunch, Bud," Mac pointedly ignored Harm.

"You're welcome, ma'am."

"And Ensign Sims, I hope we'll be seeing more of you around here."

"Yes ma'am," she shared a knowing look with Mac.

"Let's go," Mac turned to Dani, and they walked out without saying a word to Harm.

"Um, Commander, is the Major mad at you?" Bud asked once Mac was out of earshot.

"We just had a differing of opinions, Bud," he walked away toward his office.

"If that's what he wants to call it," Bud muttered and Harriet laughed.

"So, does everyone call you 'Mac'?" Dani asked from the passenger seat of Mac's car. They decided to go to Mac's apartment to talk and had spent the first few minutes of the drive in silence.

"I went by Sarah as a kid, but since I joined the Marines I've been Mac to pretty much everyone," she glanced at Dani realizing she almost nothing about her sister, including her name, "Is Dani short for something?"

"Daniela, but only my uncle and grandmother call me that. I went by Danaë when I was in boarding school and switched to Dani when I went to college."

"Boarding school?"

"This all girl's school in France," she rolled her eyes with disgust.

"You didn't like it?"

"Half of the girls where spoiled heiresses of various European socialites and the other half where the daughters of rich Eurotrash," Dani said with disdain, making Mac laugh, "I'm serious, there were a few girls who were decent, but I couldn't wait to get out of there, so I graduated a year early, ran away to Yale and never looked back."

"What are you majoring in?"

"I graduated last December with a double major in history and economics with a triple minor in classical languages, political science, and managerial studies."

"Whoa," Mac could tell that beyond Dani's natural intelligence that her sister had an upbringing with far more advantages than she did, "What do you plan to do with all that?"

"I start at Yale Law next fall."

"It's only March, what are you doing until then?"

"My uncle and cousins recently moved to Virginia Beach, so I'll be spending time with them and working for the family business," she gave Mac a sideways glance, "I'd like to get to know you better as well."

"So would I."