Friday, 5 October 2001
0930 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

Harriett was more than a little frustrated.  The Admiral requested that she schedule an afternoon of R&R for the JAG staff.  Together, they looked at the calendar and chose today as being the best possible afternoon for everyone.  The Admiral even mentioned the R&R activities at the staff meeting on Monday, encouraging everyone to participate.  

Harriett had no trouble getting the enlisted personnel to agree to attend.  They had all penned their names within an hour after she put the sign-up sheet in the break room.  But the officers?  In the two weeks the list had been on the wall, hers was still the only name on the Officers list.  Not even her own husband had signed up!

She saw Commander Mattoni leave his office and head for the door out of the bullpen.  "Commander Mattoni!" she called before he got away.

He turned around and smiled at Harriett.  "Lieutenant Sims.  Good morning," he replied.

"Sir, I noticed you hadn't signed up for this afternoon's R&R activities.  I'm just checking to be sure you are coming?" she asked.

Mattoni said, "No, I wasn't planning on it.  I'm really not much for amusement parks, Harriett."

"Oh, but it'll be fun.  We have the whole place rented for the afternoon," Harriett explained.

"I think I'll pass," he said as he walked out the door.

Harriett saw her husband get off the elevator behind Commander Rabb; she waited for them to enter the bullpen.  "Commander, Lieutenant.  Neither of you are signed up for this afternoon's R&R activities.  You are both coming, though, right?" she asked, trying to sound chipper.

"R&R?  Is that today?" Lieutenant Roberts asked.  Harriett nodded.

"Harriett, there's no way I can spend the afternoon playing.  I have way too much work to do," Bud said, hoping that the Commander would tell him to go on anyway, that the work could wait until Monday.

Unfortunately for Bud, Harm was in agreement with him.  "I can't take the time either, Harriett.  Not today; it's been a bad week.  I have several cases I have to close out and a new one I need to review.  And I'm backed up, again, on my paperwork," Harm explained.

"So neither of you are coming?" Harriett asked.

"'Fraid not, Honey," and "Not today, Harriett," they answered as they headed for their offices.

"Good morning, Lieutenant Sims," greeted Commander Turner.  "You're looking a little down in the dumps this morning, Harriett.  Something wrong?"

Sturgis Turner had only been on the JAG staff since June, but he was already a well-loved member of the team.  "Commander Turner!  You are planning to attend this afternoon's R&R, aren't you?" she asked.

"Can't do it, Harriett.  I have a Marine Captain coming in this afternoon to give a deposition.  Wish I could go, though.  I never did sign up, did I?  Well, I guess it's just as well now, so you didn't plan on me.  You all have a great time!  Let me know what I missed," he smiled as he went to his office.

Next on her list to see was Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie.  Surely Mac had just forgotten to sign up; she'd be going this afternoon.  Harriett knocked on Mac's office door.  "Enter!" Mac yelled.

Harriett walked in and said, "Colonel, you didn't sign up for this afternoon's activities.  I just wanted to check and be sure you're planning on coming."

"This afternoon?  What's this afternoon, Harriett?" Mac asked as she continued typing on the computer keyboard.

"The afternoon of R&R, Ma'am."

"Is that today?" she asked.  Harriett nodded.  "There's no way I can go today, Harriett.  I've got to finish this report for the Admiral, and I have two new cases that I absolutely have to get up to speed on before Monday."

"So you won't be coming?" Harriett clarified.

"No, I guess not.  You all have fun.  I'll catch you the next time," Mac said as she kept typing.

Harriett headed to the library; she knew Lieutenant Singer was there earlier.  "Good morning.  I'm just checking with everyone about this afternoon.  You're planning on coming, correct?" Harriett asked lightly.

"You're referring to the afternoon of R&R, Harriett?" queried Singer.

"That's right," Harriett answered.  She was so glad she no longer had to address this woman as 'Ma'am'.  Now that they were the same rank, it wasn't required or expected.

"I didn't sign up on purpose, Harriett.  If I was planning on going, I'd have signed up," Singer replied shortly.  "I have work to do.  Real work," she added nastily.

Harriett was actually glad Singer didn't want to come.  But now that none of the officers seemed to be going, she was hoping that Singer would agree to go.  Harriett went back to her desk.  She was very disappointed.  She didn't want to be the only officer present, but it sure looked like that's the way it was going to be.  'Well, I guess I'll see if the Admiral is going,' she thought to herself.

Harriett noticed that the Admiral's office door was standing open, which usually meant he wasn't in.  She walked into the Admiral's outer office and said, "Petty Officer Tiner, I'd like to speak with the Admiral for a minute sometime this morning.  Does he have any time?" asked Harriett.

"I have time now, Lieutenant!  Come on in," Admiral Chegwidden said from inside his office, surprising both Harriett and Tiner.  Harriett walked in and came to attention stance.  "As you were, Lieutenant.  Have a seat.  What's on your mind?"

"Well, Sir, it's about the afternoon of R&R, Admiral," Harriett said.

"That's coming up in a few days, isn't it.  What about it?" the Admiral asked. 

Harriett groaned inwardly.  "It's this afternoon, Sir."

"Today?" he asked incredulously.  "I thought it was in another week or so," he said flipping through his calendar.

"No, Admiral.  We scheduled it two weeks ago for today.  This afternoon," Harriett explained.

"Damn," he said under his breath.  "I've got this report due to the SecNav and a meeting with the judges this afternoon."

"Then you won't be joining us, Sir?" Harriett asked.

"Don't see how I can, Harriett.  But you all go anyway.  Have a good time."

Harriett bit her lip; she was not going to cry in front of the Admiral.  "Yes, Sir.  Thank you, Sir."

"Dismissed," he said, and Harriett left his office.

As she walked back into the bullpen, Bud stopped her and asked, "Harriett, where is that chocolate pound cake you made last night?  You said you made it for today; did you forget to bring it?"

"No, Bud," she said rather annoyed.  "It's for this afternoon.  If you were coming to the R&R, you'd get some cake.  Since it's beneath you to take time to attend something I put together, you won't get any cake.  I'm sure there won't be any left," she said as she headed for the ladies room.

"Harriett, I want to go.  I can't.  I've got too much work to do," Bud tried to explain.

"You and everybody else," she muttered.

Bud could see he wasn't getting anywhere, so he returned to his office wondering how he could appease his wife this evening.  "Flowers," he thought aloud.  "I'll bring her some flowers."

Friday, 5 October 2001
1330 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

"Where the hell is everybody?!" bellowed Admiral Chegwidden as he stormed out of his office and looked into the empty bullpen.

Bud stepped out of Harm's office and said, "Everyone's at R&R, Sir."

The Admiral nodded, "Forgot about that."  He turned to go back to his own office when he noticed that not only was Bud there, so was Harm and so was Mac.  "Why aren't the three of you at R&R?" he barked.

"Too much work to do, Sir," Harm replied.

"Getting this report ready for you, Admiral," said Mac.

Just then, Mattoni and Turner walked in followed by Singer.  "What the hell are all of you doing here?" the Admiral asked.

"Sir?" asked Mattoni and Turner in unison.

"Admiral, it's Friday afternoon, Sir.  Where else would we be?" quipped Singer.

"At the R&R activities, Lieutenant," answered the Admiral.  before either of them could reply, he went on, "Just who is at the R&R activities this afternoon, Lieutenant Roberts?"

Bud looked down at his feet and then back up to the Admiral.  "Well, Sir, I believe all of the JAG enlisted personnel are there."

"And?"

"And Harriett, Sir."

"Oh, God!  That's why she was crying!" Mac said.  At the Admiral's questioning look, she continued, "I found her in the ladies room crying this morning.  It was, oh... 1047, I think."  

"She was crying?" Singer asked, amazed that anyone would cry over such a trivial thing.

"She worked really hard putting this afternoon together, Sir," Bud said to the Admiral.  "She even baked a chocolate pound cake last night.  She bought all kinds of decorations and stuff.  Door prizes and team prizes.  She was really excited about today," Bud's voice trailed off as he thought how disappointed Harriett must be right now.  'Flowers aren't going to cut it,' he realized.

The Admiral sighed.  Harriett was in his office at 1040; that meant she headed for the ladies room in tears right afterward.  "Damn.  We can't do this to Harriett.  We're going.  All of us.  Pack up, people.  I want everyone there by 1400.  And you will have a good time.  Understood?"

"Aye, aye, Sir!" they all replied.

Turner whispered to Harm, "Good thing my deposition was cancelled."

Friday, 5 October 2001
1410 EST
Fun Company
Falls Church, VA

Harriett was delighted when the officers showed up.  The enlisted personnel were having a lot of fun, but Harriett was feeling very out of place.  Now that the other officers were present, she felt she could participate in the games, too.

There was miniature golf, bumper boats, drag racing, batting cages, and worlds of pinball machines, skeeball lanes, and video games.  The enlisted personnel were already dispersed throughout the amusement park, so the new arrivals chose their first events quickly and got started.  Bud, Mattoni, and Singer opted for the batting cages first, while Harm and Turner decided to go with drag racing.

"Well, ladies?" said the Admiral.  "What's your pleasure?"

"I was hoping for miniature golf, Sir," chirped Harriett.  "I'm not very good, but I always have fun."

"I was thinking of the bumper boats, Admiral."

"Why not both?" he answered.  They looked over to the bumper boats area and saw that all the boats were already in use.  "Golf first?"

"Absolutely!" Mac agreed.

"Wonderful," added Harriett.

The threesome chose their clubs and each one took a different color golf ball from the bucket.  "Want to keep score?  Or just play for fun?" asked Mac, tossing her green ball in the air and catching it in her other hand.

"I'd just as soon play for fun and not bother scoring.  If it's all the same to you, Sir," Harriett amended.

"That's perfectly fine, Harriett.  I can't tell you the last time I played miniature golf.  I'd probably have the highest score of all of us."

"Harriett, you go first," Mac instructed and the Admiral nodded his agreement.

Harriett put her yellow ball on the ground and aimed the club.  Whack!  It glided across the green all the way to the end and bounced off the edge, just missing the hole.  Harriett's next stroke put her ball in the hole.

"Harriett!  That was wonderful!" exclaimed Mac.  "How often do you come here, anyway?"

Harriett blushed but she was too far away for either of them to see it.  

"We play at least a couple of times a month, Ma'am," said Bud as he walked up behind them.  "Mind if I join your game, Sir?"

"By all means, Bud.  Why don't you go ahead and play next.  Then Mac, and I'll be last...for a change," he added with a smirk.

"Thank you, Sir," Bud said.  He set his red ball on the ground and swung.  "Hole in one!" he yelled raising his club over his head.

"Way to go, Bud!" exclaimed Mac.  She turned to the Admiral, "You would make me go after him.  It's going to take me forever to get this little ball in that hole!"  Mac laughed as she set her ball on the ground and swung.  

"A little too hard, I think, Mac," said the Admiral as they watched her ball fly to the end of the green bounce of the bumper and come rolling all the way back to her feet.

"I'd have to agree with you there, Admiral," she grumbled.  Mac set the ball back on the green and swung, again.  This time her ball stayed at the end of the green, but it was far from the hole.  She swung, again, getting the ball a little closer.  The next stroke put the ball in the hole.  "Finally!" she yelled.

The Admiral put his blue ball on the green and swung.  Where Mac's first swing was far too strong, his was far too weak.  The ball only advanced about 10 feet.  He swung, again, getting the ball a little further.  "In the hole now," he spoke to the ball as he hit.

"It's going in!  I can't believe it." Mac cried as she watched the ball head right for the hole.  

Just as the blue ball reached the hole, it skimmed the rim and rolled off to the side.  "What!?" bellowed the Admiral.  "That should have gone in!" he yelled as Mac laughed.  He tapped the ball, and it did the same thing, skimming off in the other direction.  "This hole is fixed," he mumbled.

"Bud and Harriett had no trouble, Sir," Mac reminded him as she turned to get their agreement.  "Where'd they go?"  Mac looked around and finally saw them.  "God!  They're already on the fourth hole!"

"And I can't even get the damned ball in the first hole!" muttered the Admiral.  He putted one last time, and the ball finally went in.  "Good thing we're not keeping score!" he added. 

"You ready for the second hole, Sir?" asked Mac.

"How many of these are there?"

"Eighteen!"

"You're kidding, I hope?"

"I'm afraid not, Admiral.  There are 18 holes," Mac assured him.

"Damn, this is going to take the rest of the afternoon!"

"Very possibly, at the rate we play."

"Is that what we're doing, Mac?  Playing?" he said huskily.  She looked up at him askance.  Then his voice was back to normal.  "Well, you're up!" he told her.

Mac was confused.  The Admiral was sending mixed signals this afternoon.  Or maybe she was just reading into them.  Yes, that had to be it.  Mac had wanted the Admiral for so long, and she knew she'd never have him.  Her mind was playing tricks on her now; his voice wasn't different.  It was all in her head, she convinced herself. 

Harriett was a little concerned about playing forward, leaving the Admiral and Colonel behind.  "Bud, shouldn't we wait and play through the course with them?"

"Harriett, it's faster this way.  Two people always play through faster, you know that.  And the Colonel and the Admiral won't mind."  He turned to look back at the first hole.  "See?  They're laughing and having a great time."

"I thought you were going to go to the batting cages first?" Harriett asked him.

"I was, but when we got there, there were only two cages open.  Singer, of course, took one.  Commander Mattoni offered the other one to me, but I told him that I'd really rather come play with you.  So he took it, and I came here," Bud explained as he got another hole in one.

Friday, 5 October 2001
1610 EST
Fun Company
Falls Church, VA

On the 12th hole, Mac got her ball in with just 4 strokes.  The Admiral was now on his 11th.  "Maybe you need a little incentive, Admiral?" Mac suggested.

'Incentive?  God, Mac...the only incentive that would help me right now is to....'  "What'd you have in mind, Colonel?" he said aloud.

"How about... one kiss for every stroke it takes to get the ball in the hole?" she asked.  

"And that's supposed to incent me to sink the ball?"  She nodded.  "Mac, that would incent me to miss the damned hole on purpose," he muttered as he swung, again.

"Oh, not me, Admiral.  You have to kiss my dog, Jingo!" she laughed as she watched the blue ball go in the hole.  "Oh, what a shame.  Jingo only gets one kiss," she said sadly.

"The dog?  You want me to kiss your dog?" he asked rather loudly.  Then much quieter and sexier, "Damn, Mac, I'd much rather kiss you."

Mac blushed furiously.  "On to the next hole, Sir?"

Friday, 5 October 2001
2305 EST
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac moved the chair into her living room.  She had the perfect spot for it.  

She gave the Admiral time to get home from her apartment before she dialed his number, but still his voice mail answered.

"Chegwidden.  Not here.  Leave a message."

Mac didn't know quite what she wanted to say, so she hung up without speaking.  Not a minute later, her phone rang.  "Hello?" she answered it.

"You didn't leave a message."  It was him. 

"I didn't know what to say.  'Thanks for the chair' hardly seemed appropriate," Mac said quietly.

"Do you like the chair?"

"It's beautiful."

"Good.  I've always liked that one, too," he offered.  "It's about 150 years old.  I've had it in my study for years.  Dreamed about you a lot in that chair."

"I'm not sure..." Mac stopped. 

"You're not sure what your answer is?"

"I know my answer," she confessed.

"Will I like it?" he asked huskily.

"Depends on who you are," she answered cryptically.  "AJ will.  The Admiral won't."

"Open your door, Mac."

"What?  The door?  Why?"

"Just open it," he ordered.  She did, and he was standing in the hall.  He took his cell phone away from his ear and pressed the Off button.

"But how...?  I called your house," Mac was flustered.

"Call forwarding," he smiled as he entered the apartment, closed the door behind him, and took Mac in his arms.  He nuzzled his face into her neck and kissed her collarbone. The towel wrapped around her hair fell to the floor.  "Well, I guess I owe that dog of yours a kiss, eh?" he said lifting his head and looking her square in the eyes.

"Jingo?"  Then she remembered.  "Actually, Admiral, the other option would be far more preferable.  And pleasurable.  And..."

"Under the circumstances, Mac, I think calling me 'AJ' would be more appropriate."

"Uh huh," she mumbled.

"As I said, Mac, some things get better with age."

"Prove it," she dared.

"My pleasure," he said as he picked her up and took her to the living room.

"AJ, the bedroom is over there," Mac argued pointing toward the door.

"Who needs a bed when we have a perfectly fine antique chair?" he quipped as he set her down on the chair.  AJ took hold of her legs and pulled her down so her back was lying flat on the seat of the chair.  "Do I need to use anything?" he asked as he positioned her.

She shook her head, "I've been on the pill forever.  And I'm clean."

"So am I," he said.  "Clean, that is.  I've never felt the need to be on the pill," he joked.  

Mac laughed, "That would be something for office gossip, wouldn't it!  The Admiral is on the pill!  They'd all think it was Viagra!"

He laughed as he knelt facing her.  "Don't need it, Mac.  As you're going to find out right now."  

Saturday, 6 October 2001
0555 EST
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac was groggy as she began to wake up.  She tried to move, but she felt restrained.  There was an arm across her middle holding her fast.  And a leg swung over hers trapping hers in place.  Mac began to panic.  She wasn't involved with anyone right now.  The last one was Mic and she was long and well rid of him.  So who was this in bed with her?  She tried to remember the events of last night, but her mind was still so foggy.  All she could remember was AJ... "Oh!" she awoke completely with a sudden jerk.

AJ woke to Mac's exclamation and her sudden movement.  "Good morning, Darlin'," he said with a happy drawl.  "Sleep well?" he asked as he kissed her neck.  "Mmm, you are so lovely."  AJ could tell that Mac was nervous.  'Probably thinks I'm going to deny all of this.  That or she's worried about its affecting her career.  Can't blame her for that.'  "Mac?  Are you okay?" he whispered.

She turned to face him, and he saw the tears in her eyes.  "I've ruined you," she said.  "I swore I would never do this, again.  I swore I would never ruin another man's career.  I swore I would never do anything to hurt you.  Oh, God!" and her tears flowed unchecked.

"Oh, Mac.  Darlin', you haven't ruined me.  You saved me!  God, do you know how long I've wanted to tell the SecNav to 'shove it where the sun don't shine'?  Now I can!" he laughed.

"No!  No, you can't!  Admiral, please.  Let me do this.  Let me be the one who pays the price.  Please.  I'll tell them I seduced you.  I used a date rape drug or something.  Please, don't..."

"Mac.  Mac, no.  Listen to me.  Listen!" he lifted her chin to face him.  "I had just about decided to retire next year anyway.  So I go a year earlier.  Big deal.  It was worth it.  You were worth it."

"Past tense?  Meaning you're leaving me now," she cried softly.

"Not until you kick me out," he said.  "Mac, I've waited for you for five years.  Now that I'm finally here in your bed, I'm here as long as you want me."  

Saturday, 6 October 2001
0935 EST
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac woke again later to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.  She rolled out of bed and pulled on a t-shirt before heading to the kitchen.  AJ was leaning against the counter talking on his cell phone.  He smiled at Mac as she entered the kitchen. 

"That's right, Mr. Secretary."

Mac froze.  'Oh God!  No!  He's not.  Oh please...'

"Very well, Sir.  I'll let you know my decision by this evening."  AJ pressed the Off button and laid the phone on the counter.

"What decision?" Mac asked quietly as she walked into his embrace.  "I thought you weren't going to call him today?"

"I didn't.  He called me," AJ replied wrapping his arms around her.

"Did you tell him?" she asked.

"Yes, Mac, I did.  I had to."

"Why?"

"Mac, he called to tell me I'm being offered another star.  They want me to take command of the Atlantic Fleet.  He recommended me; the board approved."

"AJ!  That's wonderful!" she said kissing him.  "But wait...you said... AJ, what did you tell him about us?"

"I told him that in all honesty, I had to inform him that I'd planned to submit my retirement.  And I told him the reason was that I rather suddenly became involved with a member of my staff last night, and I couldn't continue in my position."

"Oh, God..."

"Funny.  That's exactly what Nelson said," AJ commented, kissing the top of Mac's head.  "He didn't ask me who, and I didn't tell him."  AJ lifted her chin and met her eyes.  "And you are not to say a word until I tell you it's okay.  Understood?"  She nodded mutely.

"Nelson said he would refuse my retirement request; he said he couldn't possibly allow me to retire right now with all that's happening in the world."

"It's coming.  After what happened last month, it's only a matter of time.  We know that," Mac said biting her lip.

"And if I take the Atlantic Fleet..."

"You'll be in the middle of it.  On the USS Mount Whitney, the command ship.  You'll also be over the Fleet Marine Forces."

"Which means you couldn't go," he added.

"What can we do, AJ?" she asked, stepping out of his embrace and staring out the window.

"We can walk away, and forget about the last 12 hours," he suggested.

"No, we can't," she said.  "I can't, anyway."

AJ smiled.  "Neither can I, Mac," he said softly.  "I waited too long for you to ever forget what we've shared now."

She turned to face him.  "What else can we do?"

"I can take the Atlantic Fleet, and you'll stay at JAG.  When I'm home, we can be together, if you'd want to, that is."

"No charges?  No Article 32?  No court martial?" she asked.

"Nelson said not.  He said if I took the job, he'd take care of it.  And that it wouldn't be used against either of us in the future.  Of course, he doesn't know it's you... yet."

"He's not dense, AJ.  He probably does know it's me.  How many other single women are on your staff?"

"Quite a few, actually, Mac.  Mostly enlisted, but they're on my staff just the same.  You and Singer are the only officers..."

"Oh, God!  What a horrible thought!  I hope Nelson doesn't think it's her!" Mac said chagrined, and AJ laughed.

"I think he knows me a little better than that, Mac."

"Is that what you want to do, AJ?  Take the Fleet?"

"It's been a dream of mine for a long time, Mac.  Fleet Commander and then CNO."

"Then you should take it."

AJ smiled.  "I plan to, Darlin'.  I'm just making Nelson sweat for a while," he chuckled.  "Come on, I need a shower," he put his arm around Mac's waist and they headed for the bathroom.  

THE END