Boss' Day Hickey
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Author:
Ava Rating: PG-13 Disclaimer: JAG and all its
characters belong to Belisarius Productions, Paramount, CBS, Viacom, and
probably endless others. Summary: In answer
to Renee's challenge on the AJMacFic group, Mac gives AJ "a lovely
little boss' day gift". Author's comments:
Required words are in CAPS... and I even used them in order! Well,
okay, yes... it's considerably longer than 500 words; so sue me! Characters'
speaking parts are in double quotes ("text"); characters' thoughts
are in single quotes ('text'). |
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Friday, 18 October 2002
1735 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Admiral AJ Chegwidden wondered
yet again why his people did this every year. "Boss' Day. Who
the hell ever heard of Boss' Day, anyway?" he said as he stuffed the last
of his gifts into a paper grocery bag to carry out to his car. He shook
his head, remembering how gracious he'd tried to be on Wednesday.
"Next year, I'm staying home. Stupidest holiday they've ever dreamed
up," he mumbled, collecting his briefcase, cover, and grabbing the paper
bag.
He made his way through the
empty bullpen and glanced over at Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie's dark
office. 'Wonder when her flight gets in? Didn't Tiner tell me
she was due back at 1500?' he thought absently. AJ rode the elevator
down to the lobby and walked outside. He placed his cover on his head and
headed for his vehicle as he heard the call to "Attention!"
He turned and quickly set his
briefcase and bag on the ground, coming to attention and saluting as the Marine
guards ceremoniously lowered the AMERICAN FLAG from its lofty height.
Once the flag was down and folded, the Marine Sergeant called,
"Dismissed!" AJ picked up his briefcase and bag and continued
walking. "Admiral, Sir! My apologies for the delay, Sir,"
the Sergeant approached him. "I didn't see you exiting the building
when I called for..."
AJ interrupted the NCO,
"Never apologize for calling Attention for the flag, Sergeant. It's
my duty and my honor to salute our nation's symbol of
freedom." AJ looked back to the now-empty flagpole. "As
you were, Sergeant."
AJ unlocked his vehicle and
placed his belongings in the backseat, climbed behind the wheel, and headed for
home.
1750 EDT
Andrews Air Force Base
Camp Springs, Maryland
Mac exited the transport plane
and headed for the parking area. 'Sure wish I'd taken a commercial
flight this trip. I can't believe all the delays we had... going and
coming!' she fumed to herself. 'And that stupid stuffed dog!
Why anyone would carry that huge monstrosity on a transport, I'll never
know! What did he call it... Bifford... Jifford... Oh yeah!
CLIFFORD, THE BIG RED DOG.'
As Mac reached her car, she
popped the trunk and threw her duffel inside. Then she called to check
her Voicemail for her cell phone. There was a message from Harm wanting
to have dinner if she got in early enough tonight. Mac deleted it.
She was in no mood to be Harmon Rabb's patsy for the evening. There was
also a message from Petty Officer Tiner letting her know that the Admiral
wanted to see her as soon as she returned this afternoon.
"Oh great. Now
what?" she said aloud, deleting the message, and ending the call.
She dialed the Admiral's office, but the night guard answered and informed her
that the Admiral was already gone for the day. Then she dialed his home
and got his answering machine. She started to leave a message but changed
her mind. "There's that big sale at Tyson's Galleria this
weekend. I'll just go on there tonight instead of tomorrow... and swing
by the Admiral's house on my way." Thus decided, Mac pulled out
onto the highway and headed for McLean.
1845 EDT
Chegwidden Residence
McLean, Virginia
AJ stepped out of the shower
and wrapped a bath towel around his waist. He muttered to himself,
"I can't believe she didn't want to go to the play tonight. ROCK
CLIMBING! Why the hell would she want to go rock climbing?" AJ
pulled a pair of sweats out of his dresser drawer, when he heard the
doorbell. "Who could that be?" he wondered, moving to the
door. He pulled it open and was surprised to see Mac standing there.
Mac was rather surprised,
herself. "Admiral?" she stammered. "I'm sorry,
Sir. If this is a... a bad time... I... umm..." Mac was
embarrassed to see the Admiral wrapped only in a towel. Of course, if she
was honest with herself, she'd love to see what was under that towel. She
blinked hard, getting her thoughts back in line.
"Not a bad time,
Mac. I just finished a shower. Let me go put some sweats
on... Come on in." AJ headed back to his bedroom and talked
through the partially open door. "You just getting in?" he
called to her.
"Yes, Sir. There
were several delays with the transports this trip, Sir." Mac
continued, "I had a message from Tiner that you wanted to see me as soon
as I got back, Admiral." She looked around the living room and saw
the grocery bag sitting on the coffee table.
"That why you're
here?" he asked unnecessarily. "Tiner left that message before
I'd received your report this afternoon. Didn't really need to see you
once I got the report."
"Admiral, would you like
me to put these groceries away for you, Sir?" Mac called to him.
"What groceries?" he
asked, coming back into the room, dressed in Navy sweats. Mac pointed to
the bag on the table. "Oh. Those aren't groceries. I
swiped the bag from the break room. They're... gifts."
"Gifts, Sir?"
AJ nodded. "Boss'
Day," he mumbled.
Mac looked chagrinned.
She hadn't been in her office all week, so she hadn't noticed the holiday
marked on her CALENDAR. "I forgot, Sir. My apologies."
"Not a problem, Mac.
I wish everyone else would forget, too."
"What did you get this year,
Admiral?" she asked.
"See for yourself,
Mac," he nodded to the bag.
Mac grinned and sat down on the
sofa, pulling out the items from the grocery bag. "A
pillow?" Mac flipped the OVERSTUFFED PILLOW to see the other
side. The Navy JAG insignia was beautifully embroidered on the
pillow. "Oh! This is nice, Admiral. Who is this
from? Harriett?" AJ shook his head. She cracked a smile,
"Well I know Harm didn't do this needlework," she teased.
AJ laughed. "No, it
was definitely from a female officer, Mac."
"Singer?" Mac asked
incredulously. AJ grinned. "I would never have guessed that
she could do this kind of embroidery."
"She said she made
it," he nodded.
Mac reached in the bag and
pulled out a picture frame. "Turner," AJ said. Then she
pulled out a large coffee mug. "Rabb." Mac continued
emptying the bag. AJ remembered just in time to say, "Mac, be
careful! There's a CACTUS in the bottom of the bag!"
"A cactus?" she
asked. "Who gave you a cactus?"
He grinned.
"Nobody. I got that to give the SecNav. Lost my
nerve." His mouth twitched like he was trying hard not to smile.
"The old one... or the new
one?" she asked, a twinkle in her eye.
"Couldn't decide.
That's why I kept it," he grinned, as they both laughed.
Mac reached in the bag and
pulled out the last gift. "A Beanie Baby?" she laughed.
"Who in the world gave you a Beanie Baby, Sir?" she choked out.
"Actually, it's not a
Beanie Baby. It's a Screenie Beanie."
"A Screenie Beanie,"
she repeated.
"Mmm hmm." AJ
took the elephant-shaped bean bag from Mac's hand and read the hang tag to
her. "Emory. Born October 10, 1998. Don't forget to use
this cute elephant. He's smart you know, rather intelligent. Keep
him handy to clean, near your screen, but away from the mouse. Emory may
scream!"
Mac laughed hysterically.
"That had to come from Bud!"
AJ nodded.
"Yep. Bud and Harriett. Actually, it's not a bad idea.
The belly of the elephant is chamois cloth, and it cleans dirt and dust from
the computer screen. It worked really well on my screen at the office, so
I brought it home to clean the one in my study, too."
"And you just wipe it on
the screen?" Mac asked.
"Come on, I'll show
you," AJ said, heading for his study. He and Mac walked around behind
his desk and he nodded toward the computer screen. "Just wipe it
off, Mac."
She did. "Wow, that
worked great! I'll bet this would be wonderful for a TV set,
too." AJ nodded. Mac looked at the end of AJ's desk and saw
his computer printer lid up. "Something wrong with your printer,
Sir?" she asked.
"Nothing prints on the
page anymore. They come out blank," he said.
"Probably just needs
PRINTER INK, Sir. Do you have any cartridges?"
AJ pulled open the desk drawers
until he found a box. "This them?"
Mac smiled. "Yes,
Sir. Would you like me to change it for you, Sir?"
"Show me how, Mac.
Then I won't feel like an idiot the next time it runs out."
When they finished with the
printer, Mac and AJ returned to the living room. "I really should be
going now, Sir. I don't want to keep you."
"You doing anything
tonight?" AJ suddenly asked.
"I was just going to the
mall, Admiral. Tyson's Galleria has a big sale this weekend. Did
you need something? I can always go to the mall tomorrow," she offered.
AJ debated on whether to ask
her. She was his subordinate. He shouldn't ask her. 'But
damn it! I spent a goodly amount on these tickets, and I don't want to
waste them!' "You like Shakespeare, Mac?"
Mac was surprised at the
question. "Yes, Sir. I do. I love Shakespeare," she
stammered.
"I have tickets for
tonight's performance of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. It starts at
2100. Would you be interested in attending? With me, I mean?"
he clarified.
Mac's shock was evident.
"But Admiral... I thought you'd be taking Meredith..."
"Meredith didn't care to
go. She preferred rock climbing this weekend," he explained.
"Rock climbing? She
chose to go rock climbing over a romantic weekend with you?" Mac was
amazed. She shook her head in bewilderment and mumbled, "I'm gonna
have to have a talk with that woman. What's the matter with her?"
AJ smiled at Mac's words.
"Is that a yes?"
She looked back at him and eyed
his attire. "You going to wear that?" she grinned.
AJ chuckled.
"No. I'd about decided to stay home. Unless you'll go with
me," he asked, his eyes hopeful.
Mac bit her lip. "Admiral,
it would be my privilege to attend with you. If you're sure it's
okay. I mean..."
"I'd really like you to
go," he encouraged her.
"I need to shower and
change. What time would we need to leave, Sir?"
AJ looked at his watch.
"Damn. It's already 1930, and the performance begins at 2100."
"Which theatre?"
"It's here in McLean,
Mac," he groaned. "You don't really have time to go home,
shower, change, and get back here in time for us to be there by 2045.
"Well, I do have a dress
with me. I'd have to steam it some, and I could just shower here... if
that's okay with you, Admiral?" she suggested.
"Absolutely!" he
agreed quickly.
While Mac showered, AJ steamed
the wrinkles from her dress. In no time at all, they were heading out the
door.
2355 EDT
Chegwidden Residence
McLean, Virginia
AJ pulled his vehicle into the
driveway and turned off the lights and engine. But he didn't make a move
to open his door. Mac was taking her leads from him tonight, so she sat
quietly, waiting. "Thank you for going with me tonight, Sarah,"
he said quietly.
Mac was surprised at his use of
her given name. "Thank you for asking me... AJ."
He smiled in the dark, hearing
her call him by his name instead of his rank. He reached out and put his
hand on her knee. "I enjoyed your company immensely," his words
were husky.
Mac felt a bit giddy.
"I haven't enjoyed myself with a man more in... a very long time,"
she breathed.
AJ turned to face her. He
lifted his hand to her face and turned it toward his. "Sarah...
I..." he hesitated.
Mac knew what he was trying to
say... or at least, she thought she knew. "I understand, AJ.
We can't."
AJ dropped his hand and
immediately opened his door. He walked around to Mac's side and pulled
her door open. She swung her legs out and he helped her down from the
vehicle. But rather than releasing her hand, he pulled her into his
arms. Mac's breathing instantly became quick and shallow, and she gasped
lightly as he nuzzled her neck. When AJ heard her gasp, he lifted his
face. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I had no right to..."
"Please, AJ. Don't
apologize. Please don't..." Mac reached her arms up and
encircled his neck, pulling his head down to her and kissing him full on the
mouth. Their lips parted and they deepened the kiss. As AJ felt Mac
suck on his tongue, he began to pull away. Mac allowed him to lift his
head, but she buried her face in his neck and began nipping and sucking.
She sucked an especially tender spot on his neck, and he knew he'd have a
hickey there come morning. They finally pulled themselves apart.
"I should go now," she said.
"I wish you could
stay..." "I wish I could stay..." they said at the
same time.
"But you
can't." "But I can't." Again, their words came
together.
"Good night, Sarah."
"Good night, AJ."
Monday, 21 October 2002
0902 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
The JAG officers took their
seats at the conference table, and quickly all eyes were fixed on the
Admiral... or rather, on the Admiral's neck. Harriett blushed when she
realized what the purplish mark was. Harm grinned and poked Sturgis in
the ribs. Mac just smiled. AJ looked around the table. "Something
funny?" he asked.
"Sir! No, Sir!"
they all quickly replied.
When the staff meeting was over
an hour later, they all filed out of the conference room. When the
Admiral was out of earshot, Harm grinned, "Can you believe he's got a
hickey?"
"Harm, that's none of our
business," said Sturgis.
"I guess he saw Meredith
this weekend," giggled Harriett.
Tiner walked out and heard this
last. "No, actually, Ms. Cavanaugh went rock climbing this weekend,
Ma'am. The Admiral didn't go with her," he offered.
"Then where... how...
who...?" stammered Harm.
"I heard tell he got it as
a Boss' Day present," Mac said in all seriousness.
"What?!" cried
Harm. "No way, Mac!"
"But it wasn't there last
week!" argued Sturgis.
"And Boss' Day was on
Wednesday, Ma'am," Harriett replied.
"Sometimes those things
don't show up right away, you know. Usually takes a few days for
mine," she lied.
"But who would have dared
to...?" Harm didn't complete his thought as the Admiral strode
through the bullpen on his way out.
"Colonel! Walk with
me!" he ordered.
"Aye, Sir!" she said,
immediately falling in step with him as they headed for the elevator.
The officers watched the
Admiral and Mac leave the bullpen. And they watched as the Admiral put
his hand on Mac's lower back and had her precede him onto the elevator.
Most unusual. The door barely closed behind them when AJ pulled Mac into
his embrace and buried his tongue in her mouth. "Oh,
Sarah!" "Oh, AJ!" they moaned together. He moved his
mouth to her ear and down her neck, kissing and nipping.
Just as the doors were ready to
open, they separated, and AJ headed out to the parking lot. Mac rode the
elevator back upstairs, a smile on her face. Mac
strode back into the bullpen. "Let's get back to work, people,"
she said authoritatively.
As the officers dispersed, they
each had a knowing grin on their face. 'I wonder if I should tell her
to go check the mirror in the ladies room?' thought Harriett. 'Sure
didn't take a couple of days for that one to show up!' she giggled
to herself.
The end.