Double Take

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: JAG and all its characters belong to Belisarius Productions, Paramount, CBS, Viacom, and probably endless others.

Summary: Mac meets AJ on a plane coming back from California... but is he really her AJ?

Author's comments: This one is at Naïma's request. Let's ignore Meredith for this one; she doesn't exist; and Mac's not lost in Paraguay either. Characters' speaking parts are in double quotes ("text"); characters' thoughts are in single quotes ('text').

Friday, 23 May 2003
1055 PDT
American Airlines Flight 1224
San Diego, California

Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie was the last person to board the plane; in fact they had already released the door from its secure hold as she ran down the ramp. She heard one of the flight attendants say, "Hold that a second. One more passenger is on the way down the ramp."

Mac rounded the corner; "Thanks!" she said, stepping from the ramp into the plane.

The flight attendants smiled at her. "Glad you made it," one of them said.

"Barely," Mac replied, shaking her head. "Thanks for holding the door." Before Mac headed to her seat, she said quietly, "By the way, I'm a Marine. Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie. If I'm needed, just let me know."

The senior flight attendant shook her hand. "Nice to have you aboard, Ma'am. We do have an extra seat up in First Class, if you'd like to take that instead of Coach," she offered.

Mac beamed. "That would be wonderful! Thank you."

"Seat 3B."

Mac was delighted. She loved flying First Class, and she seldom got to do it. The military never paid for it, and she never wanted to use her own money to upgrade her ticket. She usually scrunched her long legs into Coach. She couldn't imagine how uncomfortable it must be for someone like Harm or the Admiral. She was only 5'11". The Admiral was 6'3" and Harm, 6'4".

She opened the overhead compartment over her seat and stuffed her duffel bag into the tiny space. She closed the compartment and sat in the aisle seat. The man in the window seat next to her was apparently asleep, his large Stetson laying over his face. Mac buckled herself in and prepared for the long trip home. First to Dallas, change planes, and then on to Washington. She was glad she'd be home for the holiday weekend. She wanted to hit the sales at the mall, wallpaper her kitchen, and the Roberts were having their first annual Memorial Day picnic at their new house on Monday. She did not want to miss that.

About 30 minutes into the flight, Mac glanced at the man beside her. 'Strange. He looks so familiar.' He was wearing a western-style shirt, dark blue jeans, and fancy cowboy boots. She still couldn't see his head or face; his hat covered those. She guessed that he must be about the Admiral's height... 'The Admiral! That's who he reminds me of. His build is the same.' Once she figured that out, she felt better. 'Well, I know it's not the Admiral, so...'

The flight attendant stopped and asked if she'd like anything to eat. Mac shook her head. "What about a beverage, Colonel MacKenzie?" she asked.

"I'd love a tonic water with lime, if you have it," Mac replied.

"Of course." She looked at the man next to Mac and saw that he was stirring. He reached up and pulled his hat from his face. "Can I get you something to drink, Sir?" the attendant asked him.

"Jack Daniels," he replied simply.

Mac's eyes widened when she heard the Admiral's voice. She turned surprised eyes to him and smiled. "Well, hello."

The flight attendant said, "I'll be right back, Colonel. Sir." And she headed back to the kitchen.

He grinned a lopsided smile. "Hello, yourself." He twirled his Stetson on his hand. "Wonder where I'm gonna put this now that you're in that seat?"

Mac put her hand out to take it from him. "There's a shelf up front; I noticed it when I boarded. I'll put it up there for you if you'd like, Sir."

He raised an eyebrow in surprise but handed her the hat. "Thank you, Colonel."

Mac took the hat and went forward to stow it on the shelf she'd seen earlier. 'What is he doing here?' she wondered. 'And dressed like that? Well, you're dressed in civvies, too; why shouldn't he be?' She returned to her seat just as the flight attendant brought their beverages. They each took a sip... well, his was more like a swig. "So, what took you to San Diego, Sir?"

"Business," he replied. "But now I'm on vacation. Going to spend some time at the family ranch this weekend."

"You're not going home?" she asked with a hint of sadness to her voice. She had really looked forward to the Admiral's being at the Roberts' picnic. He always seemed so much more relaxed at a picnic.

He chuckled, "Well, I will eventually."

"I'm sorry, Sir. I didn't mean to pry."

"Not a problem, Colonel. So, what about you? Big plans for the holiday weekend?"

"Not really. Just some shopping at the mall. Memorial Day sales, you know. And I thought I'd try my hand at wallpapering the kitchen. And of course, there's the Roberts' picnic on Monday."

He raised an eyebrow again and grinned, "Yes, of course."

"I'm sorry you'll miss it, Sir."

He shifted in his seat to face her. "Do you have to call me 'Sir'? My friends call me 'AJ'."

Mac smiled nervously; he'd never asked that of her before. "You want me to call you 'AJ'?"

"If you'll let me call you something other than 'Colonel'," he teased her.

"Of course. 'Mac', 'Sarah'... 'Hey, you!'..." she laughed.

"Sarah," he caressed her name, sending a shiver down her spine.

"AJ," she replied, smiling. "So, what 'business' brought you..."

He smiled again, that crooked smile of his that she loved, and he laid his index finger over her lips stilling her words. "Let's not talk business, Sarah." He leaned forward and would have replaced his finger with his lips had Mac not pulled back from him. He chuckled, "So tell me about this wallpaper for your kitchen. Fruit? Flowers?"

Mac was startled at the Admiral's behavior, it was so unlike him. 'I wonder how many of those bourbons he's had?' "Roosters, actually."

He laughed. "We call them 'cocks' on the ranch."

Mac chuckled. "They're all the rage now for kitchens. They have plates and dishes... statues... all kinds of things with roosters. I'm just starting to change my kitchen over, so I don't have much yet."

"Well, I wish I could be there to help you hang the wallpaper, Sarah," he chuckled. "You have someone helping you?"

Mac shook her head. "The neighbor I would have asked moved out two weeks ago. Actually, he left Georgetown all together. I thought about asking someone from the office, but... I just decided to do it myself."

"Don't want to owe anyone?" he observed.

She blinked hard. "Owe anyone? AJ, that's not the way we operate. We're friends. We help each other because we want to."

"Excuse me," the flight attendant interrupted them. "Would you like the Chef's Salad, the Shrimp Elegante, or the Vegetarian Lasagna for lunch?"

"Chef's Salad, please," Mac said.

"What, no beef?"

"I'm sorry, Sir. Not today."

He grumbled a bit, and then said, "I'll have the shrimp, I guess." Their meals were served promptly, and both of them enjoyed their food. "Want to try one of these shrimp? They're actually very good."

Mac nodded. "Thanks."

She was going to reach her fork over and stab a shrimp, but before she did, he raised his own fork to her mouth. "Open wide," he ordered.

Mac blushed as she obeyed. "Mmm," she murmured as she pulled the shrimp off his fork. "This is delicious," she mumbled.

His eyes bored into hers. "My turn," he said huskily, leaning toward her again.

Mac quickly forked a piece of salad and raised it between them. "Open wide," she repeated his own words.

He frowned, but he opened his mouth and took the salad from her fork. As he chewed, he grumbled, "Never have liked rabbit food."

They finished their meals and the flight attendant took their trays. "So! What will you do on vacation, AJ?"

"Well, I haven't spent much time with the family in several years, so I thought I'd go home for a change. We'll ride a lot; that's what Adele enjoys the most."

"Your sister?" Mac remembered hearing him mention her name before.

AJ lifted a surprised eyebrow. "That's right."

"Are your parents still living?" she asked, realizing that she didn't even know that about her CO.

"My dad died some years back. But Mom is still kickin'," he drawled. "Sometimes I think I should just chuck it all and go back to the ranch. Then I decide against it," he sighed. "I guess I just love the rat race too much."

Mac smiled. "Don't we all?"

"You, too?" he laughed. "You mean you wouldn't quit to get married and have a family?"

This time it was Mac's turn to look surprised. "I guess it would depend," she answered evasively.

"On what?"

"On why I had to quit." She decided to chance it. Staring straight ahead, she said, "If it was because I loved someone in my chain of command," she stole a quick glance at him, "Then, yes, I'd quit. If I knew he wanted me," she added.

"He'd be a fool if he didn't want you, Sarah," AJ replied huskily. Mac turned to face him, raw desire shining from her own eyes mirrored back to her from his. He leaned forward, and this time, Mac didn't pull away. She leaned toward him. He laid his lips on hers. Then he pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss. Mac wound her arms around his neck and ran her hands over his bald head.

She knew that soon he would pull away and repeat those words that he'd said years ago: "This is a mistake." But he didn't. He pulled her closer to him, devouring her lips, sucking her tongue into his mouth. He moved one hand in front and unbuttoned her blouse enough to allow him access to the hollow of her throat. Mac was panting now, her breathing short and shallow.

The flight attendant's voice boomed over the speaker, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are making our final approach into Dallas/Ft. Worth. Please be sure your seatbelts are securely fastened, stow all tray tables, and ensure your seatbacks are in the upright position."

"AJ... we can't. We have to stop," she whispered.

"How long of a layover do you have in Dallas?" he asked urgently.

"Only 51 minutes," she sighed.

"Can you take a later flight?"

She shook her head. "None available; they're all full because of the holiday weekend. This was the only flight that had any available seats until Monday."

"Damn," he swore under his breath. He kept hold of her hand as they landed and taxied to the gate. "Maybe there's a way... we're coming in to Gate A25; which one do you leave out of?"

"A22."

"Perfect!"

The flight attendant opened the door, and Mac and AJ were the first two off the plane. They almost ran up the ramp and into the concourse, AJ not releasing her hand. "AJ, where are we going?" Mac laughed as they ran.

"The Admiral's Club!"

"I'm not a member."

"I am!" They reached the door and he used his pass card to open the door. The room was almost empty. "Come on," he said as he walked toward a doorway.

"What's in there?"

"Workout room. It'll probably be empty right now. Usually is at this time of day."

Mac wondered how he knew that. She wondered why he was a member of the exclusive Club for American Airlines; he seldom flew American Airlines. But she kept her thoughts to herself. He pushed open the door, tossed his hat and carry-on aside, and almost immediately pulled Mac into his arms. She dropped her duffel and wrapped her arms around him. He leaned her back against the wall and buried his tongue in her mouth. "Oh, Sarah..." he moaned as he moved his hands over her body.

"Do we dare?" she gasped, but before she'd even finished speaking, he had her blouse unbuttoned. She moved her hands to his shirt and deftly unbuttoned it, sliding it off his shoulders and down his arms. She was surprised that he wasn't wearing an undershirt. Most military men she knew always wore them... simply because they were used to them. She was doubly surprised not to see any scars on his chest. She had always imagined him with several large battle scars.

AJ began sliding Mac down the wall until they were kneeling in front of each other. He nuzzled her neck and sucked hard on the tender flesh of her neck. "Oooh," she groaned in ecstasy. She hadn't had a hickey in a long time. From their knees, it was a quick trip to the floor, and AJ quickly unzipped his jeans. "AJ! I hear someone coming!" Mac whispered urgently.

"Damn!" He jumped to his feet and zipped his jeans again. He grabbed his shirt and buttoned it as Mac buttoned her own blouse as she stood up. The door opened and a young couple with two small children walked in. "Hello!" they greeted.

Mac said, "Hello."

"Howdy," replied AJ.

'Howdy?' Mac turned questioning eyes to him. He just winked at her.

The young family didn't leave; the husband showed the wife every piece of equipment in the room while the children chased each other. Finally, AJ and Mac picked up their belongings and left. "My flight boards any minute," she said.

"Yeah, I guess this is goodbye."

"It's been an... interesting... flight, AJ."

"Maybe we'll meet up again and pick up where we left off?" he suggested.

"Maybe," she whispered.

They heard a page over the loudspeaker, "AJ Chegwidden! Pick up the blue courtesy phone for a message. AJ Chegwidden! Pick up the blue courtesy phone for a message, please."

"That's me," he grinned. He pulled Mac back into his arms and kissed her soundly. "Goodbye, Sarah. I'm sorry we got interrupted." He turned and was gone.

Mac made her way to her gate and boarded the plane to Washington.

Friday, 23 May 2003
2235 EDT
Chegwidden Residence
McLean, Virginia

Mac sat in her car outside of AJ's house. She knew he wasn't home; he was in Texas. But after today... after what they shared... and almost shared... she just wanted to be near him. And sitting outside his house was her answer to that.

Their kisses hadn't quite been all that she'd anticipated, but then that wasn't really a fair assessment. 'We were in a plane with people everywhere... and then rushed and nervous about someone walking in. Of course it was a little stiff... a little... off. It'll be different when he comes home.' Mac sat there for a good 5 minutes and finally headed for home.

She didn't see the porch light come on as she drove away. She didn't see AJ open the front door and step out on the porch to find out who was parked in front of his home. She didn't see him shrug his shoulders and go back inside.

Saturday, 24 May 2003
1315 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac groaned as she heard the doorbell ring. She had just wet a long strip of wallpaper. She laid it down gently on the kitchen floor, hoping it would still be okay to hang when she finished at the door. "Coming!" she yelled as the doorbell rang a second time. She looked through the peephole and was surprised to see the UPS delivery man. She opened the door. "Yes?"

"Need your signature for this, please," he said handing her the electronic tablet.

"What on earth?" she looked at the large box he held in his arms. She quickly signed for the package and he handed her the box. "Thank you."

"Have a nice day, Ma'am," he said as he trotted down the steps and back to his truck.

Mac set the large box on the coffee table in the living room; the kitchen table being loaded down with wallpaper supplies. She decided to wait to open the box. Maybe the wallpaper would still be okay. So she left the box and returned to the kitchen, picking up the long strip of paper from the floor. She climbed up the ladder and pressed the paper in place, lining up the pattern. It was more difficult than she'd thought it would be. "Why'd they have to have a stupid rooster split down the middle at the edge?" she complained under her breath.

Several hours later, Mac decided to take a break. She only had a little bit more wallpaper to hang, but they were all tight spaces, and she wanted to be fresh when she did those. Otherwise, she was afraid she'd mess them up. She walked toward her bedroom and noticed the large box on the coffee table in the living room. "Oh! I forgot about that," she realized. She grabbed a pair of scissors from the kitchen table and returned to the living room. She looked at the return address on the UPS label. "Chegwidden?" she breathed. "Oh, my God! He sent me something?" She pulled the box open and found a wrapped gift box. "What did he do?"

Mac untied the big red bow and lifted the lid off the gift box. She pushed the tissue paper aside and saw what it was. She laughed as she pulled the ceramic rooster from its confines. It was about 14" high to the top of its comb, and it was at least that in length. It was a beautiful rooster; Mac had seen several similar to it in exclusive gift shops in recent months. Those were actually what had prompted her to choose a rooster theme for her kitchen. She just hadn't bought one of them yet. Now she wouldn't have to! This one would be absolutely perfect on the counter. And the best part of all... it was from AJ.

She pulled out the card and read,

Dearest Sarah,

I hope this cock gives you as much pleasure
as I would have liked to give you yesterday.
Another time, I hope.

AJ Chegwidden

Mac gasped as she read his words. Never in a million years would she have expected the Admiral to write such a note. She picked up the rooster and held it to her breast. "So do I, AJ. Oh, so do I!"

Sunday, 25 May 2003
1810 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac put the last of the wallpaper supplies away and returned to the kitchen. "I like it!" she exclaimed. "I really like it!" she smiled. She had spent the morning hanging the last of the paper, and then headed for the sales at the mall. Her primary goal now was to find rooster paraphernalia. And she found all that she wanted, everything complementing the wallpaper and her new statue from AJ. Those were the only criteria she had. And truth be told, she even bought one thing with no concern whatsoever about the wallpaper. It would go well with AJ's statue, so she bought it. It was a hen and it held three little chicks inside of it.

Mac giggled as she opened the hen and took the chicks out. "I wonder if he's serious?" she asked herself. "If he really means he wants me? Or if he's just..." She shook her head. "No! AJ wouldn't do that. He wouldn't risk his career for a fling. He does want me," she determined. "We'll just have to be careful until I can be transferred... or quit. Whichever."

She walked back into the living room and spied the gift card on the table. "Speaking of being careful!" she snatched up the card and took it to her bedroom, tucking it under her panties in her dresser drawer. "Should be safe there," she decided.

Monday, 26 May 2003
1425 EDT
Roberts Residence
Oak Hill, Virginia

Mac pulled up in front of the Roberts' house and waved to Harriett as she stepped out on the front porch. Mac checked the mirror to be sure her scarf was covering the hickey on her neck. Then she climbed out of the car and walked around to the passenger side. She opened the door and picked up the large casserole dish from the floorboard. "Baked beans!" Mac chirped.

"Oh, you're wonderful! I love your baked beans, Colonel!" Harriett gushed.

"It's Mac today, Harriett," she told her. "I brought some sodas, too. They're in the seat; can you get them?"

"Sure!" Harriett reached in the car and picked up the 2-liter bottles of soda.

"Harm is already here?" she asked, surprised that his SUV was already parked in the driveway.

Harriett grinned. "I told him we were going to start at 1400. I figured that way he'd be here by 1430. He surprised me! He showed up at 1420!" Mac and Harriett exploded in laughter as they entered the house and went straight to the kitchen.

By 1440, everyone from JAG Ops had arrived, with one exception. "I wonder what's keeping the Admiral?" Bud voiced his concern. "He's never late."

Mac looked surprised. "He's not here, Bud. He's in Texas this weekend."

"Texas? What's he doing there?" Harm asked.

"Visiting his mother and sister," she replied.

Harriett shook her head, "I just spoke with him this morning, Mac. He said he'd be here this afternoon. He's bringing his homemade chili for the hot dogs. What makes you think he's in Texas?"

"Who's in Texas?" AJ's voice sounded from the doorway. "Here's the chili," he raised the pot in front of him.

They all turned around. "Admiral!" "Sir!" "Welcome, Admiral!"

Mac looked shocked. "But... I thought... You said..." she sputtered.

AJ looked at her questioningly. "I said what, Mac?"

"You were..." Mac bit her tongue. "Nothing, Sir. I must have misunderstood."

He handed the pot to Harriett. "Sorry I'm late, Harriett. Had a call from Sheffield just as I was ready to walk out the door."

"No problem at all, Admiral," Harriett said. "Well, we're all set up outside, so why don't we all move out back?" she suggested.

The group made their way out the back door, and sat in the lawn chairs scattered around. Little AJ Roberts was already outside playing on his jungle gym. When he saw the Admiral sit down, he jumped down from the cross bars and ran to him. "Adm'l AJ!" He barreled into the Admiral's legs and scrambled up into his lap, hugging him.

"Well, hello there, my man!" AJ hugged the child back. "And what have you been up to today?"

"Cross bars!" the child told him. "Daddy says I can do the cross bars now. I'm 4!"

"Yes, you are," AJ agreed. "We had a birthday party for you just a week ago, didn't we?"

"Yes, Sir!" he nodded his head. "And I got lots of presents!"

"You sure did, AJ," Mac laughed, taking the seat next to the Admiral. "I never saw so many birthday presents!"

A moment later, the child scurried off to play on his jungle gym again. Harm chuckled, walking up to them and standing in front of a vacant chair. "You had your present bought for him months ago, Mac," he recalled. He didn't notice when Tiner moved the chair for Harriett to sit down.

Mac grinned. "Yes, I did. And you probably bought yours on your way to the party." He nodded and started to sit in the now non-existent chair when Mac said urgently, "Harm, no!"

He jerked back up, but his mug of beer sloshed out and landed right down the front of the Admiral's shirt. They all gasped as the Admiral sat there in stunned silence. He finally looked up and chuckled, "I'll bet you've always wanted to do that, Rabb!"

"Sir! No, Sir!" Harm said apologetically. Harriett rushed to the Admiral with a towel to dry him off.

"Not a problem, Harriett. I have another shirt in my vehicle. I'll just go change. If you think you're through dousing me with beer?" he looked directly at Harm and grinned.

"For today, anyway, Sir," Harm grinned back.

As AJ stood up, he turned to Mac. "So Mac, why'd you think I was in Texas?" She blushed and shook her head. He wondered about that. 'She's blushing?' "Walk with me," he told her and they walked around the side of the house, heading for his vehicle.

Mac hoped that he'd tell her privately that the reason he came back early was to be with her. When they reached the driveway and were alone, she smiled, "You came back early. I'm glad."

"From Texas?" he queried, stripping off his shirt and standing in front of her in his undershirt.

She nodded. "I love the rooster you sent, AJ. And the card. Wow," she blushed again.

AJ frowned. "Rooster? Card?" Mac took a step closer to him and ran her hand from his upper arm down to his hand. She squeezed it. "Mac, are you feeling alright?" he asked.

She smiled. "Wonderful, AJ. Especially now that you're home."

'Why is she acting like this?' he wondered. 'And she's calling me "AJ". That's not like her.' He said, "Mac, I haven't been anywhere. I don't know what gave you the idea that I was in Texas, but I haven't been out of town in months." He removed his hand from her grasp and took a step backwards.

Mac blinked hard. Surely he wasn't going to deny what happened? "You..." she started, but stopped at the closed expression in his eyes.

"I, what, Mac?"

"You're saying that you didn't go to California this week?"

"I was here in town all week, Mac."

"And you didn't fly from San Diego to Dallas on Friday?"

"No, Mac. I was at the Pentagon all day on Friday."

"AJ, are you a member of the American Airlines Admiral's Club?" she asked with a catch in her voice.

He shook his head slowly and then stripped off his wet undershirt. "No, Mac, I'm not. I seldom fly on American; you know that."

Mac saw his bare chest now. She reached her hand out and ran her finger down a long scar on his left chest. Then she ran it along another scar on his right stomach. "Oh, my God," she began to shake and her breathing came in spasms. She was almost to the point of hyperventilating.

"Mac?" AJ reached for her, but she backed away from him.

"No!" she gasped, tears now welling in her eyes and threatening to spill down her cheeks.

"Mac, what is it? What's wrong?" AJ tried again to reach for her. This time, she turned and started running down the street. "Mac!" AJ called after her. "What on earth?" he mumbled as he took off running after her. "Mac! Stop!!" AJ overtook her in less than a minute. "Mac," he pulled her into his arms. "What is it? What's happened?"

She shook her head. "It wasn't you!" she gasped. "I can't believe I... when... I... it..." she stammered. "It wasn't you!" Her tears were flowing freely down her face now. "I would have let him..." Mac tried to wiggle out of his arms, but AJ was too strong for her and held her fast. "Let me go," she begged.

"What happened, Mac? I want you to tell me what happened," he whispered to her softly.

She shook her head. "I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm too ashamed."

"Mac, we had an agreement after Ragle's death. That if you ever needed help, you would come to me. Tell me what happened."

"I thought he was you."

"You thought who was me?"

"The man on the plane."

"Was it dark?"

She shook her head. "No. He looked just like you," she gulped.

AJ had a bad feeling. "Did he make a pass at you, Mac? Is that what this is about?" Mac nodded dumbly. "You said you would have let him... Let him what, Mac?" She shook her head. "Tell me, Mac." She kept shaking her head. "You asked about the Admiral's Club. Did he take you there when you landed?" She nodded. "Is that where..."

"Please, let me go," she begged.

"Mac, answer me this. Did you make love to him?" She shook her head. "Thank God," he sighed, releasing her.

"We got interrupted," she hiccupped. "I heard someone coming in time."

As AJ lifted Mac's face, her scarf slipped and he saw the hickey. He ran his finger over the sensitive spot. "Did he do this?" She nodded. "And you thought it was me?" he rasped. She nodded again, lowering her eyes. "You were going to make love to him, thinking it was me?" Mac starting walking back to the Roberts' house. AJ followed her, keeping two steps behind her all the way back. "Are you sure you're okay, Mac? He didn't hurt you?"

She turned around and faced him. "You just don't get it, do you!? I thought he was you! Nothing he did hurt me because I thought he was you!" she screamed.

"Didn't you even ask his name?" AJ asked in bewilderment.

Mac blinked hard. "I knew his name; I didn't have to ask." She started walking again, with him following. They were almost back to the Roberts' house now.

"But you told him yours?"

Mac thought for a moment. "Yes, I guess I did."

"Did he ever correct you when you called him AJ?"

She shook her head. "He told me to call him AJ. That was his name." Mac thought for a moment. "Come to think of it, he even answered a page at the airport for AJ Chegwidden." AJ stopped walking; he knew now. "You'll have my resignation on your desk in the morning, Sir."

Mac was pulling away in her car when AJ looked up. "Mac!"

Monday, 26 May 2003
2135 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac really didn't want to answer the door. But whomever was there was being very persistent. She finally released her pillow, rolled off the bed, and walked to the door in her bare feet. She looked through the peephole and sighed. "I wish I could just die now," she said as she opened the door to the Admiral.

"Well, that's certainly not what I wish, Sarah."

Mac jerked her head up. "You!"

"Me?"

"Get out! You aren't welcome here!" She put her right hand on his chest and pushed.

"Woah, wait a minute!" AJ pushed back, stepping inside her apartment, and closing the door behind him.

Mac started to beat on his chest with her fists now. "Get out! Get out of here!"

"Mac, it's me!" She stopped and looked up into his face. "Do I have to remove my shirt so you'll know it's me?"

"You called me 'Sarah' when you walked in here," she gulped.

"That is your name, you know."

"But that's what he called me."

"So it's not something I can call you? Because my brother ruined it for us?"

"You always call me... what? What did you say?" she looked up, puzzled.

"He's my brother, Mac," AJ said softly. "My twin brother."

Mac shook her head. "I didn't know you had a brother."

"Now you do. Unfortunately, you met him in an... awkward... way."

"But he said his name is 'AJ'."

"It's actually Alfred Joseph. We call him 'Freddie'. But when he moved to Las Vegas and set up a business, he decided that 'AJ' suited him better. The family and folks around Texas still call him 'Freddie'; all his business associates and friends call him 'AJ'. Fortunately, we don't have any of the same friends. Well... until you met him."

"So there are really two of you?" she hiccupped.

"No, Mac. There's only one of me. And there's one of my brother."

"Anyone else in the family I should know about?"

AJ chuckled, "Just my sister. Adele Justine."

"Your parents had a thing about the letters A and J, hmm?"

"His name was Andrew; her name is Julia. They decided to name all of us with their initials. It was actually kind of fun in grade school."

"I'll just bet."

"Mac, I'm sorry about what happened. And Freddie is, too. He had no idea that you thought he was someone else. At least that's what he says. With my brother, you can never really tell," AJ explained.

"You talked to him?" she looked worried.

AJ nodded. "When you left the picnic, I went back inside and told Harriett something came up and you had to leave. Then I excused myself to make some phone calls. I finally reached him about two hours ago. He and Adele were out riding."

Mac nodded. "He mentioned that she enjoys that."

"Do you ride, Mac?" She nodded. "Maybe you and I can go riding sometime," he said softly.

Mac felt her tears welling up again. She shook her head to clear them, and said, "Would you like some coffee, Admiral?"

"You called me 'AJ' earlier, Mac." She turned around and stared at him, not saying a word. "Yes," he finally broke the spell. "Coffee would be nice. Thank you." Mac walked into the kitchen... her newly decorated kitchen. "Cocks!" he chuckled. "You like roosters, Mac?" She blushed, remembering the note the other AJ sent her. She nodded as she measured the coffee into the filter. "Wow, look at this guy. He's a monster," AJ said, picking up the rooster his brother had sent. "Is this from... me?" he asked quietly.

She nodded as she poured the water into the coffee maker. "I thought it was, yes."

"I'm glad you didn't throw it through the window when you got home earlier," he said, putting it back on the counter.

Mac looked up, startled. "I wasn't going to through it through the window. I was going to throw it out the window... down to the cement below. Only reason I didn't was because I didn't want the dogs to get it in their little paws," she sniffed.

AJ folded Mac into his arms and pressed her head against his shoulder. "Mac, I'm sorry for what happened with my brother. I truly am." He felt her body shaking, and he knew she was crying again. "But there's one thing that I'm not sorry about." She lifted her head and looked up into his face, a question in her eyes. "I'm not sorry that I found out how you feel about me." She lowered her head. "Because I feel the same way about you." He felt her quick intake of breath. "Yes, Mac; you heard me. I feel the same way about you." He lifted her chin so that their eyes met. "You told my brother that you'd quit if you loved someone in your chain of command... as long as you knew that he wanted you."

Neither of them blinked as AJ lowered his mouth to hers and claimed her lips. She sighed, "Oooh, AJ."

"I want you, Mac. I love you. Now the question is this... which one of us leaves?" Mac just stared at him, open-mouthed. He lowered his mouth to her again and this time their tongues dueled for the right of ownership. When they finally lifted their heads, AJ continued, "I can retire. Or you can quit. It's totally your choice. I'm ready to retire. It wouldn't phase me in the least. But I've always dreamed of supporting my wife so she could stay at home and raise our children. Two, I think." Mac gasped. He grinned, "Do you want children, Mac?"

"Wife?" she whispered. "Children?"

He nodded. "Round-about way of asking, I guess." He kissed her again. "Will you marry me, Mac?"

"But... but..." she stammered.

"But?"

"We haven't... I mean... you'd never even... I've... we've..."

"Mac, you're having a lot of trouble getting your thoughts together today," AJ joked. "Just say it. We haven't... what?"

"Ever dated," she replied hesitantly.

"I'd never even...?" he prompted.

"Kissed me until just now," she finished.

"You've...?"

"I've never touched you."

"We've...?"

"Never made love."

"Okay. You're right. We've never dated. But we know each other... well. And I know I'm in love with you. We can date after we're married," he grinned. "I'd never kissed you. That's true. But I certainly had in my dreams, Mac. And we have in real life now, too." He lowered his mouth to hers. "Mmm, and you are a wonderful kisser." She giggled. "You've never touched me? I would be delighted to have you remedy that right here and now. But why don't we kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, hmm? We've never made love either, as you so thoughtfully pointed out." AJ picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. "Let's take care of that right now."

He laid her gently on the messy bed. "Someone's been sleeping in your bed," he teased, kicking his shoes off.

She shook her head. "No, actually... someone's been crying in my bed."

"I love you, Sarah MacKenzie," he said as he kissed her.

"And I love you, AJ..." she hesitated. "Albert Jethro Chegwidden," she corrected with a smirk.

"Will you marry me?" he asked again.

She smiled. "Only two children?" she asked.

"As many or as few as you want, Mac," he told her, rubbing her nose with his.

"Two is a good number," she purred. "And you'd really want me to stay home to raise them?"

"Only if you'd be happy doing that."

"I think I'd like that. And when would we get married?"

"As soon as you want to," he said, brushing her hair away from her face.

"Well, since I'm not on anything anymore and my body did the ovulating thing today..."

AJ looked up startled. "Mac! I didn't even think! You want me to wear a condom? I have one..."

"No," Mac shook her head. "That's not what I meant."

What did you mean?"

"It was my round-about way of saying 'Yes'," she smiled, lifting up and kissing him.

The end.