Cherry Point
Author: Ava
E-mail: mmmThatAJ@yahoo.comRating: PG-13
Disclaimer: JAG and all its characters belong to Belisarius Productions, Paramount, CBS, Viacom, and probably endless others.
Summary: There are attacks on enlisted men's girlfriends at Cherry Point and Gunny & Mac are sent to take care of things. (This is for the August 2001 challenge on the DogTags group.)
Author's comments: Characters' speaking parts are in double quotes ("text"); characters' thoughts are in single quotes ('text').
Friday, 6 July 2001
1400 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia"Enter!" barked Admiral Chegwidden.
His office door opened and Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez walked in, snapped to attention, and said, "Reporting as ordered, Sir."
"At ease, Gunny. Have a seat."
Gunny was at once on edge. The only time the Admiral ever had him sit in his office was when he was getting his fitness report...and it wasn't time for that. Something was wrong. Had to be.
"Gunny, we have a problem at the Cherry Point installation. There's been a series of attacks on enlisted men's girlfriends. NCIS arrested a Corporal last week who they believed was the attacker."
Gunny wanted to speak up, but it wasn't his place. Not yet. He heard last week about the attacks at the Point. He had several buddies who were stationed there, and they'd told him all about the Corporal who was arrested. They didn't believe he was guilty.
"Problem is," the Admiral continued, "there was another attack this morning. So either the Corporal isn't working alone, or they arrested the wrong man." He paused and looked at Gunny. Gunny had a look on his face that AJ had seen before. "Gunny, what do you know about this?"
"Well, Sir, I have a few buddies at the Point; they told me all about the attacks and the Corporal. They don't believe he's guilty, Sir."
"Did they say why?" the Admiral asked.
"Seems the Corporal doesn't believe women belong in the Service, Sir. According to my friends, he treats women with the utmost respect and would never hurt one of them. If anything, he's overprotective of the females on base, Sir," Gunny explained.
"We're talking about civilian women here, Gunny. None of the women who were attacked are Military. All civilians; the only thing they have in common is that their boyfriends are enlisted men at Cherry Point." AJ stood and walked around to the front of his desk and leaned against it. "Even the attacks took place off base...as far off as Moorhead City and New Bern. It wasn't until the fifth woman was attacked that the police even put it together. They contacted NCIS who investigated and arrested Corporal Jackson Dykes. After the attack this morning, they contacted me. They want help. I agreed to give it to them," he said. AJ looked directly at Gunny and said, "You."
Gunny stared at the Admiral. "Me, sir?"
"You're a Marine. You're enlisted. And you already have contacts inside the Point, so you'll be accepted and known right away."
"Yes, Sir." Gunny waited for his orders.
"I'm sending you TDY to Cherry Point, effective Monday. As far as anyone here is concerned, General Billington requested your expertise in automatic weapon instruction, and I agreed to loan you to him for 4 months. He'll be here tomorrow at 0930 to give you a rundown on your duties while you're there."
"Aye, Sir," he responded.
"You have a girlfriend, Gunny?" the Admiral asked.
"No, Sir, not at this time."
"You do now. Your new girlfriend's name is Lisa. You'll call her at least every other day, making sure that you are overheard. You two are intimate; make sure that comes across during your conversations. You'll be billeted at the EQ, which means when she comes to visit you on the weekends, she'll stay at a motel in Pine Grove. You'll stay with her."
"Sir, Pine Grove isn't..."
"You have a better suggestion, Gunny?" the Admiral asked.
"Actually, yes, Sir. There's a bed & breakfast in Morehead City where my buddies' girls stay when they come to town. It's only about 20 miles from the Point, Sir."
"Fine," AJ agreed.
"Sir, when will I be meeting this Lisa?" Gunny asked.
There was a knock on the Admiral's door. "Right now, Gunny." Then he barked, "Enter!"
And in walked Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie.
Friday, 3 August 2001
1200 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia"So, Mac. You want to grab a pizza and a movie tonight?" Harm asked.
"Can't. Thanks, anyway," she replied as she breezed past him toward the elevator.
"Hey! Hold up a minute! Where are you going?"
"Taking the afternoon off. See you Monday, Flyboy!" Mac pressed the Down button and waited for the elevator doors to open.
"You're taking the afternoon off, again?" Harm asked. "What's going on with you lately? This is the second Friday afternoon you've taken off in a month!"
"And that's a problem because...?" Mac countered.
"Just making an observation, Mac. Going somewhere?"
"None of your business," she teased.
"Ah, come on, Mac. You can tell me. Hot date?"
"Harm..."
"I heard you on the phone yesterday, Mac. You were really talking dirty. Down and dirty. So who's your new love interest? Anyone I know?" Harm pressed for an answer.
"Colonel! My office...now." The Admiral exited the elevator as the doors opened.
'So much for getting there in time for dinner,' Mac mused.
Mac followed the Admiral to his office, closed the door behind them, and waited. "Have a seat, Mac," AJ said as he took his place behind his desk.
"Mac, give me an update," he said as he thumbed through the pile of phone messages Tiner left on his desk.
"For which case, Sir?" Mac wasn't sure what he asking for. She had three court cases lined up for the next two months.
"Cherry Point....Lisa," he said with emphasis.
"Actually, Sir, there's not a lot to tell. Gunny calls me every other day. When he calls during office hours, we talk for about 10 minutes. When he..."
"He calls you here? At the office?! Through the switchboard?!? That can be traced, Colonel. If the attacker is watching..." AJ yelled.
"No, Sir. He calls on my private cell phone. Actually, it's a cell phone I got in Lisa's name, just in case. That's why I carry it with me all the time, Sir...just in case Gunny calls," Mac explained.
"Go on, Colonel."
"As I said, we talk for about 10 minutes when he calls during the day. In the evening, we usually talk for an hour."
"An hour? God! What on earth do you find to talk about for an hour with Gunny?" AJ wondered aloud.
"Actually, Sir, we assume that the phones are tapped or at least that someone is listening to Gunny's end of the conversation. So we talk as though we were a couple."
"Meaning?"
"We talk about plans for the future, vacations, our families." She hesitated. Seeing the Admiral's intent look, she continued. "And the usual things a man and woman talk about when they're in love and apart, Sir."
"Enlighten me, Colonel."
"He tells me about his day; all the weapons that jammed, all the privates he yelled at, that sort of thing. And I tell him about my day; breaking a nail on the keyboard, canceling and rescheduling meetings, sharpening pencils..."
AJ looked at her incredulously. "Lisa is an office assistant, Sir, remember?"
AJ nodded. "Of course, yes, I remember." A smile played on his lips; he couldn't imagine anyone believing that this kick-ass Marine Colonel was a secretary.
"Any leads on the attacker?" He asked.
'Thank God he didn't go back to the phone calls. How would I tell him about having phone sex with Gunny?!' She replied, "No, Sir. Nothing since Sergeant Frake's girlfriend was attacked two weeks ago. This guy seems to attack someone every two-to-three weeks. So, it's time for him to strike, again."
"When are you heading back down there, Mac?"
"As soon as I'm finished here, Sir. There's an enlisted men's ball tomorrow night, so I'll be spending the weekend with Gunny."
"Well, you're finished here. Dismissed."
Mac stood, came to attention, and said, "Aye, Sir!"
As she reached the door, AJ added, "Be careful, Mac."
Mac smiled at him as she closed the door and headed back for the elevator.
Saturday, 4 August 2001
0730 EDT
The Dill House B&B
Morehead City, North Carolina"Gunny, wake up. You have to be back on base in an hour," Mac said as she came out of the bathroom.
Gunny groaned as he rolled off the sofa, right on to the floor. "Damn! I'll be glad when this assignment is over," he mumbled.
"Not much fun, is it, Gunny?" Mac offered.
"No, Ma'am."
When Gunny was dressed and coming out of the bathroom 20 minutes later, Mac asked him about their upcoming evening. "So, what time is this big party tonight?"
"1900 hours, Ma'am." Gunny looked up at her and swallowed hard. She was standing there in the skimpiest bikini he'd ever seen in his life! Wasn't there a song about a bikini like that? Something about yellow polka dots and the top coming off in the water...?
"Am I picking you up or are you coming to get me?" She interrupted his thoughts.
"Uh, um...I'll come get you, Ma'am. The ball is in New Bern," Gunny finally managed to spit his words out.
Mac smiled. "Okay. I'll be ready at 1815."
"Looks like you'll be spending the day on the beach, Ma'am?" Gunny asked.
"Yea. I could really use a day lying in the sun."
"Be sure you don't burn, Ma'am," he cautioned her. "Sun's pretty strong out here."
"Oh! I'm glad you reminded me. Here, put some of this on my back before you leave, will you?" she asked as she picked up a bottle of suntan lotion and handed it to him.
"Yes, Ma'am." Gunny squirted the lotion into his hand. As he was ready to spread it on her back, she reached around behind her and untied the strings on her bikini top. Gunny gasped. 'God, I hope she didn't hear that!' he thought.
But she did. "Gunny..." she started.
"Which beach will you be going to, Ma'am? It's possible that I'll finish the training session early. Then I'll need to join you for the afternoon," Gunny rushed to explain as he rubbed in the lotion.
"Where would you suggest, Gunny?"
"Atlantic Beach, just south of the boardwalk, would be an easy place for me to find you, Ma'am," he suggested.
"Then Atlantic Beach it is," she replied as she re-tied her bikini strings.
Saturday, 4 August 2001
1430 EDT
On the Beach
Atlantic Beach, North CarolinaMac was lying on her back on the beach blanket, her eyes closed. Suddenly she felt a shadow move over the sun. "Damn. I'll never get a tan if the clouds don't..." As she opened her eyes, she saw Gunny standing over her, blocking the sun. "Victor!" she cried. She jumped up, and flung herself into his arms. "Come go swimming with me! I've been waiting to go in, hoping you'd get here!" She took his hand and pulled. "Come on...let's go in...Victor..." she pleaded.
Gunny kicked off his shoes, stripped out of his shirt, and took Mac's hand, again, as they ran into the water together. They splashed and played and kept going farther out until they were far enough away from everyone else.
"So, anything happen today?" Mac asked.
"Not yet," Gunny hedged.
"Not yet?" queried Mac. "What does that mean? That you're expecting something to happen today?"
"Actually, yes." Gunny reached over and took Mac in his arms. He leaned his head down and kissed her hard on the mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck but pulled her lips away from his.
"I hope you have a very good reason..." she started.
"I do. There's a guy on the boardwalk with a pair of binoculars trained on us. He followed me here from the B&B. I went by there first; he was waiting."
"Oh. Have you ever seen him before?" Mac was instantly on guard.
"Sure have. On base. PFC Joseph Cole. He's in one of my training groups."
"How long has he been at the Point?"
"Since February. About three weeks before the first attack," Gunny told her.
"He could be our man."
"Very likely."
As Gunny was about ready to suggest they head back to shore, Mac turned them so that Gunny's back was to the ocean and her back was to the shore. As she pulled his face down to hers, she said, "He's still watching; those binoculars give him a great view. We need to give him something to watch." She stuck her tongue out, and licked his lips...his nose...his chin...his lips, again. Then he captured her mouth in his, bit gently on her lower lip, and trailed soft kisses along her jaw.
Gunny's hands traveled down Mac's body until both of them were settled on her butt. He gently massaged her cheeks as they continued their kissing. 'God, her ass is so firm!' he thought. He was really getting hot and bothered now. Kissing a woman this way, especially a woman like Mac, was hot. Really hot.
Mac felt Gunny's hands on her cheeks. 'God, he's got good hands!' she thought. 'Keep your mind on the job, Marine!' she reminded herself.
They finally broke apart and headed back for the shore. Private Cole was no longer in sight on the boardwalk; there was no telling where he was now.
Mac flopped down on the beach blanket, grabbed the suntan lotion, and threw it at Gunny. "Victor, put some more of this on my back, would you, Honey?" She untied her strings, again, and laid down on her stomach.
"Sure, Babe." Gunny applied more lotion to her back, tickling her as he rubbed it in. He laid on his back next to her, and closed his eyes.
Saturday, 4 August 2001
2330 EDT
Sheraton Grand Hotel Ballroom
New Bern, North CarolinaGunny and Mac made a stunning couple on the dance floor. He was wearing his Mess Dress uniform; Mac was wearing a black and white, strapless evening gown. To anyone watching, they saw a most attentive suitor and a very responsive lover.
The event photographer approached them and asked if he might take several pictures of them. Gunny nodded his agreement. The photographer positioned Gunny behind Mac with his arms coming around her waist, her head leaning back against his shoulder. Then he moved them around to face each other, Gunny's hands on her hips and hers around his neck. Then he asked them to dance. He wanted this last picture to be un-posed...natural...free.
Gunny held Mac close, very close, almost daring anyone to cut in on them. When Mac finally excused herself to visit the ladies room, five Marines descended on Gunny.
"Who the hell is she, Gunny?" "Damn, is that Lisa?" "God, that picture you showed me doesn't do her justice!" "She's gorgeous!" "Introduce me!" They were all talking at once.
When Mac returned, Gunny's new 'friends' were still surrounding him, and talking about her.
"Excuse me, gentlemen," she said as she slid between two of the men and sidled up close to Gunny. "Victor, I'm getting awfully tired. Do you think we could...?"
"Here, Gunny," Private Cole said as he handed Gunny a key. "My girlfriend was a no-show tonight, so I won't be needing this."
Gunny leaned into Mac and said in a very seductive voice, "Looks like we're all set, Babe. Come on. Let's go upstairs."
And he took her by the arm and led her out of the ballroom toward the elevators.
Mac leaned into Gunny's side and whispered, "Gunny, what are you doing?"
He pulled her in close for an embrace and whispered, "Cole gave me this key. Chances are pretty good he's going to try something."
"And what if he just has a perverse desire to watch us? Then what?" Mac argued.
"Then he watches us, Ma'am."
Sunday, 5 August 2001
0045 EDT
Sheraton Grand Hotel
New Bern, North CarolinaMac had spotted the red light from the video camera as soon as they walked in the hotel room. It was in such an obvious place! How could anyone be so stupid? The guy is an amateur, obviously. Sometimes that's good; sometimes that's bad.
Mac stepped out of her shoes and stripped from her pantyhose. "Victor Honey, I'm about dead on my feet. That sun really drained me today. All I want right now is a nice cool bath." She walked over to him and snaked her arms up and around Gunny's neck. "Care to join me, Lover?"
"You know it," he growled.
"Unzip me," she said as he turned her back to him.
Gunny reached up and unzipped her dress, slowly, all the way down. Then he reached his hands inside and wrapped them around her. "Mmm, Victor!" she moaned.
"Good?" he asked. Gunny was a nervous wreck, but Mac couldn't tell. He was really afraid he was overstepping the line, even if this was an undercover assignment.
"Very!" she purred. Mac was nervous, too. 'What does he think he's doing, touching me like that? Oh, but God...it feels soooo good!' "Come on, let's take a bath. Together."
As soon as they entered the bathroom, hoping to be able to talk unguardedly, they both spied the red light in the corner. 'Damn! Another camera!' They both knew what it meant, too. A bath. Together. For real.
When they finished bathing each other in the large garden tub, they moved to the bedroom. Gunny kept the sheet over them as much as possible to hide Mac's body from the camera... but he couldn't hide the desire in his eyes... or anywhere else, for that matter.
"Please, Victor. I need you," Mac begged him. Gunny looked deep into her eyes and saw the longing in them.
Sunday, 5 August 2001
0515 EDT
Sheraton Grand Hotel
New Bern, North CarolinaGunny and Mac awoke at almost the same instant. He reached down to the foot of the bed and drew the blanket up to warm them. As he did that, Mac nestled in closer to him and entwined her legs around his. 'She's really into this play-acting. I wonder if she's had to do this with Commander Rabb on those undercover assignments for Webb? Probably.'
"Good morning, Sweetcakes," he said.
"Mmm, it will be when I've had some sugar."
"And what type of sugar would you like this morning? Donut? Bagel? Coffee cake?"
"Nooo," she purred quietly. "You, Victor."
"Ooh, Baby."
As they made love, again, neither of them even looked to see that camera light was off.
Sunday, 5 August 2001
1000 EDT
Sheraton Grand Hotel
New Bern, North CarolinaAs Gunny left the key at the front desk of the hotel, Mac walked outside. Suddenly she was grabbed from behind and dragged into the bushes, a gloved hand covering her mouth.
Gunny came outside and didn't see Mac. "Lisa?" he called. "Lisa, Babe, where are you?"
"Over here!" she called as she came back through the bushes with a gun pushed in her attacker's back. "Private Cole here decided he wanted a little of what you got last night, Lover. And well, I didn't want to give him any."
"Who are you?" Cole rasped.
"Oh, how rude of me," Mac said. "Allow me to introduce myself. Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, JAG Corps." She turned to Gunny. "Wrap this one up, Gunny. I'll see you back at JAG on Wednesday."
"Yes, Ma'am!" Gunny snapped.
Friday, 17 August 2001
1400 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VirginiaGunny had been back at JAG for almost two weeks. In all that time, he hadn't had the opportunity to talk to Mac alone. She was always busy. She was always with someone, usually Commander Rabb. And Gunny wanted to talk to her. He needed to talk to her. He had to know whether that night in the hotel meant anything to her. By now, though, he was sure it didn't. Otherwise, she would have made the time to see him. 'Best to just forget it, Victor. It was an assignment, nothing more.'
Petty Officer Tiner knocked on the Colonel's door and handed her her mail. There was a large manila envelope postmarked from Cherry Point. 'I wonder what this could be,' she thought. She ripped it open and pulled out the contents...there were three 8x10 glossy photographs. As she looked at them, each one was better than the last. The third picture was her favorite. Victor held her close and they were dancing; he with an evil grin on his face, and she caught in the middle of a laugh. "Oohhh!" she exclaimed. Her smile was bright enough to light up the entire bullpen.
