Part 5

Duncan smiled. "Well, at least you remember my name," he laughed. Sherry laughed as well. "Oh, I remember a lot more than that!" She hugged him and they shared a kiss. Remembering her manners, Sherry turned to Jarod. "Duncan, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, Jarod. Jarod, this is Duncan MacLeod."

The two men shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. "Well, Jarod, if you don’t mind, I’m going to steal Sherry away to the dance floor," Duncan said as he grabbed her hand and began walking away.

"Well, if you must" Jarod answered. He watched them for a moment and then walked over to speak with North, Kit, Aly and some of the others he had met the last time he had come to Sherry’s rescue.

Duncan pulled Sherry close on the dance floor. "So, how have you been?" he asked.

"I’ve been fine," she answered a bit hastily he thought. "And what about you? Anything I should know about?" she teased.

Duncan laughed. "Oh, I don’t think so. Just the same old stuff." Sherry smiled. "And how is Methos?" she inquired about his friend whom she had met very briefly a little while back.

"As infuriating as ever," Duncan answered. "He gets me into more trouble..." Sherry laughed. "Oh yeah, and I suppose you never get him into any." Duncan, looking wounded, answered, "How could you even suggest such a thing?" They danced a little longer and then Sherry asked, "So, you don’t know Curlly, and I don’t think you know Sinjin, so just what are you doing here?"

She could tell by the look on his face that she wasn’t going to get an answer from him either. "Sweetheart, you really should work on your manners. I thought you’d be happy to see me. You could at least compliment my appearance."

Shaking her head and feigning exasperation, Sherry answered. "Oh, sorry. You are, as usual, drop dead gorgeous and I am completely blown away that you are here. There. How was that?"

Duncan smiled and kissed her cheek. "Much, much better." He slid his hands up and down her arms in a gentle caressing motion.

"What I want to know is, who invited you?" she asked, wondering what was going on.

Duncan shook his head. "Huh uh. Sorry. I can’t divulge that information. You should understand my predicament. You certainly have kept your share of secrets."

"I will make you two talk before this night is over," she threatened. Duncan smiled. "Ohhh, I do so look forward to it."

Michael had started to walk over to Sherry and Jarod when he saw Duncan enter. As Duncan headed straight for Sherry, Michael waited and watched. He noticed how happy she was when Duncan arrived. How comfortable they were together. Remembering that they had lived together for months when she had gone undercover didn’t ease his mind at all. Watching them made him uncomfortable. He wanted to walk over, grab her by the arm and whisk her out of here, but he knew that wasn’t an option. These men were her friends, but what were they doing here anyway? Why did she invite them?

Rita and North had been watching Michael’s reaction to Duncan’s arrival. "Well, I do believe Mr. Samuelle is getting a little miffed," Rita said. North nodded. "I think you’re right. Our plan seems to be working," she noted. Operations walked up at that moment.

"North, you have been spending entirely too much time watching Michael. I’m tired of it. If you wanted to spend the evening with him, why did you come with me? Let’s dance." He grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the dance floor. "I’m coming, Paul. You don’t have to drag me," she chided him.

Sherry and Duncan left the dance floor and headed back to Jarod. He was still talking with Kit and Rita. Sherry introduced Duncan to the others in the group. Kit laughed. "Uh, Sherry. Just how many gorgeous men do you have hiding out there anyway?"

Sherry smiled mischievously. "Oh, wouldn’t you like to know!" Michael walked up to the group at that moment and put his arm around Sherry’s waist in an unmistakably possessive gesture. Sherry could feel the tension in his body.

It was all Rita and Kit could do not to laugh. The thought of Michael feeling threatened by anyone was funny. Michael turned his attention to Jarod and Duncan.

"So gentlemen. Why are you here?" Sherry interrupted him. "Michael! Don’t be so rude." She would have said more but North intervened. "Sherry, could you come with me for a minute. I need your help." Grabbing her arm, North whisked her away from the group.

"Okay, North, what’s going on here? Did you invite them? I know Curlly didn’t because she doesn’t even know Duncan. As far as that goes, neither do you."

North smiled. "Yes, I did. And it seems to be working."

Sherry looked confused. "Working? What’s working?"

North studied her friend for a moment. "You’re enjoying yourself. You’re happy. And, you’re not ‘preoccupied.’"

Sherry suddenly knew what was happening but still couldn’t believe North had done this. "You did this for me?"

Nodding, North laughed. "Well, I don’t see them hanging all over anyone else? I wanted you to feel better. I knew seeing them would help. And it won’t hurt Michael to know he has some competition."

Sherry nodded. "It does help, thanks. But it’s not gonna solve anything."

"Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure," North quipped. "You just might be surprised."

At that moment all eyes but Sherry’s, who had her back to the door, turned to a tall handsome man in Navy dress whites entering. He stopped inside the door as his eyes sought her out. Seeing her in conversation, he quietly walked over behind her. North saw him approach, but didn’t let on.

"Excuse me ladies. I was wondering if either of you would be willing to dance with an ex-fighter pilot turned lawyer."

Sherry whirled around. "Harm?" Then she turned back to North. "How did you ... who else ...?"

North held up her hand. "I simply asked and he said he’d be happy to come. And he’s the last one." Then North walked away.

Harm looked confused. "I’m the last what? I don’t know if I like the sound of that."

Sherry laughed and hugged him. "Oh never mind. It’s great to see you. And looking so handsome in your dress whites."

Harm inclined his head to accept her compliment. "You look great," he replied.

"Why thank you, Commander," Sherry smiled. "Now, I believe you asked about a dance. Shall we?" Harm took her arm in his and led her to the dance floor.

Michael had been watching events unfold and he was getting upset. Rita walked up beside him. "They make a great couple, don’t they?" she taunted.

"What’s going on, Rita?" he demanded.

"Looks to me like Sherry’s having a great time. Better be careful, Michael. She may just decide she doesn’t want to marry you after all." Michael was not one to make scenes in public, but he was about to do it. He took a step toward the dance floor to pull his fiancé away from the Commander when North took his arm and stopped him.

"Michael, don’t. Making a scene is not going to help her. Let them finish their dance."

Taking a deep breath, Michael turned to her. "What is going on, North? And what do you mean, is not going to help her? Is there something wrong that I should know about?" Surely he would know if there were something wrong with her.