The Illusive Model - Part 1

Friday, 24 August 2001
1215 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Mac sat behind the desk in her office and looked at the stacks of papers piled on it, on the file cabinets, on the floor... everywhere she looked, there were stacks of papers. It was on days like this when she actually considered giving it all up and becoming a full-time model. She certainly had the body for it. And she had the opportunity. A long-standing job offer. Full time. From one of the most prestigious fashion magazines in Europe. Good pay; not as good as a private law firm, but certainly better than the military. Better hours. Better travel locations. It offered everything.

"Not quite," she mumbled as she heard the familiar call to attention. She looked up and saw him stride through the bullpen. Mac smiled to herself and attacked the mound of paperwork. She'd never leave. Not as long as AJ Chegwidden was the Judge Advocate General. She wasn't about to make that mistake, again. Mac answered her ringing phone, "Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie."

"Have you changed your mind yet, Mac?" asked a sultry Italian voice.

Mac smiled when she heard the voice of her CO's daughter. "Hello to you, too, Fran... Hold on a second," Mac said as she saw Commander Harmon Rabb standing in her doorway. "Can I help you with something, Harm?"

"No, just thought you might be ready for a break. Lunch?" he asked.

"Sturgis isn't around today, huh?" she replied.

"No, he's down in... Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" he realized she'd baited him.

"Nothing, Harm. Just that you never ask me to go to lunch anymore, unless Sturgis isn't here."

"I got the feeling that you didn't especially care to spend time with me anymore. I figure every now and then, it might be okay to ask," Harm replied.

"I never said I didn't want to spend time with you, Harm. You decided that on your own." Harm started to object, but Mac cut him off. "Thanks, but no thanks for lunch. I have too much to do," she said as she waved her arm indicating the stacks of papers.

"Another time?"

"Of course. I'm usually here," she quipped. "Harm, close the door on your way out, please?" He nodded and pulled the door closed. Mac turned her attention back to the phone call. "Sorry about that. You still there, Francesca?"

"I'm here. So you and Harm are having problems?"

"Not really. It's hard to have problems when there's no relationship to begin with," Mac explained.

"But Mac, I thought you wanted Harm?"

"Nope."

"Papà seems to think you do. And that Harm wants you. Papà says he wishes you two would just go to it and get it over with," Francesca confided.

"The Admiral said that? That he wants me to be with Harm?" Mac asked. She tried to keep her tone light and not let her disappointment come through; it wouldn't do at all for the Admiral's daughter to discover how Mac felt about him.

"That is what he said. He didn't seem happy when he said it, though. I think he'd rather have you for himself!"

Mac felt her eyes start to fill with tears. 'No! I will not get teary eyed. Not now,' she insisted in her mind. "Yeah, right," she said aloud. "Your father would never be interested in me, Francesca. I'm his subordinate. And back to your original question, no, I have not changed my mind. Doubt that I ever do, though I will admit... I was thinking about it just before you called."

"That's a start! We will talk more when I see you at the photo shoot, yes?"

"Is it still scheduled for tomorrow?" asked Mac.

"Sì. Tomorrow. The limo will pick you up at your apartment at 7:00 in the morning, as before."

"Okay, I'll be ready. Francesca, just one thing," said Mac.

"Mac, please do not worry. These pictures are not for publication to the world. They go only in my sample album to show my line to manufacturers. Just as we did last year and the year before," Francesca explained, again.

"And they won't show up in a magazine? Or on the Web?" Mac clarified.

"No, Mac. Only in my sample album. And there are limited copies of it," Francesca said patiently.

"Okay. I'll see you in the morning. Maybe I can shake this depression I've been in since I got back from the Guadalcanal and Indonesia," Mac said.

"Oh, I think it will help. You will like this grouping, Mac. It is my best yet."

Saturday, 25 August 2001
0830 EDT
Ritz Carlton Hotel
Arlington, Virginia

Mac sat in the chair in front of the mirror while the beautician finished the last touches of her makeup. Her nails were dry now at least. She had already smudged the bright red color on her left big toe and her right index finger twice. Next, it would be the hair stylist's turn at her. Mac was really getting tired of her hair hanging in her face and flipping out at the sides. People were beginning to hint to her at work that she needed a haircut. 'Hell, do they think I don't know that?' she fumed. 'Why is it so damned important that my hair be a little longer for this photo shoot?' she wondered. 'Guess I'll find out soon enough.'

Francesca walked in the vanity portion of the enormous hotel suite. "Good morning, Mac! You look just lovely this morning," she teased. "Well, at least you will look lovely soon," she laughed.

"I'll get you for that, Francesca," Mac promised.

"You do, and I'll tell Papà that you have the hots for him!" Francesca laughed.

Mac looked at Francesca's reflection in the mirror. "Don't you dare tell him that!" Mac hissed, afraid the Francesca might actually know the truth.

"Better still, I will show him your pictures!" Francesca teased.

"Francesca! I would be in so much trouble, you can't imagine! Please, don't even joke about that!" Mac begged.

Francesca laughed even more. "Then do not threaten me!"

The beautician finished and the hair stylist began working his magic. "Before I go any further, you must take off that robe. I simply will not tolerate your taking that over your head after I finish with your hair," he pouted.

Mac looked at Francesca. "This is the only one I found. Did you bring another one?"

Francesca nodded and called to her assistant. "Luciana, go into the living room and get the green robe." When she returned, Mac stood up and switched robes.

"Francesca, what did you design this time?"

"You will have to wait and see!" she teased Mac. "I think you will like it."

Mac looked at her doubtfully. "Something akin to Frederick's of Hollywood?" Mac baited.

"Frederick's of Hollywood! Lei me insulta!" Francesca cried in Italian.

"Did I insult you? Oh, poor baby," teased Mac.

"Mac, my garments are sexy."

"They're skimpy."

"They are tasteful."

"Yeah, right!"

"Mac, my garments are not tacky. They are fun. They are..." Francesca defended.

"They are wonderful, Francesca," Mac said. "And you're right, they're not tacky. Well, none that I've seen so far, anyway."

Francesca smiled. "And these aren't either. Well, maybe one or two..."

"Oh, God..." Mac groaned. "If your father ever finds out about this, I'm dead. But no. He wouldn't just kill me, he'd..."

"Devour you," Francesca said. Mac quirked an eye at her. "Papà would devour you if he ever saw your pictures, Mac. Believe me. My father is a man." She looked at the hair stylist. "A real man. He could not resist you, seeing the pictures, Mac. Nor could Harm. Shall I let one slip into their hands?"

"No!" Mac cried. "Please, Francesca. I love my job. I don't want to lose it."

The stylist's hands stilled. He said, "Do you mean that you're not a professional model?" Mac shook her head. "Why ever not?"

Francesca beamed at Mac. "You see? I told you so!" Francesca looked at the stylist, "I've tried to talk her into modeling full time for the last three years. I finally got her to agree to model my line two years ago. So we do a photo shoot twice a year."

"And I get all the lingerie, bikinis, and nightgowns I want!" Mac smiled. "Mic certainly enjoyed most of them," she said sadly.

"Most of them? Not all?" Francesca asked, slightly insulted.

"He didn't get to see all of them," Mac said with a sly grin. "I'm saving a few of them."

"For... whom?" Francesca asked.

"None of your business!" Mac laughed.

Saturday, 25 August 2001
1000 EDT
Ritz Carlton Hotel
Arlington, Virginia

Mac had already modeled three bikini bathing suits, five nightgowns, and three peignoir sets. "Okay, people! Take a break!" shouted the photographer. "Thank you, Mac, you're doing a great job, as usual. I still can't understand why you don't do this full time. You're fabulous!"

"Thanks, Chase, but I rather like my day job," quipped Mac.

Francesca walked over to Mac and handed her the green robe from earlier. Mac slid her arms into it and tied it in front. "I can't believe how quickly this is going, Mac. We're going to be finished much earlier than I expected," Francesca told her.

"When do I see your newest creation?" asked Mac.

Francesca smiled.  "It is just before we break for lunch, Mac," answered Francesca. "I hope you like it, Mac. I designed it with you in mind. I was thinking of you wearing it for a certain Naval officer, actually, Mac."

Mac sighed. "Harm. Why does Harm always have to..."

"Who said it was Harm?" Francesca interrupted.

Mac whirled around to face her. "If not Harm, who?" she demanded.

Francesca smiled. "Why, Papà, of course."

"Francesca..." Mac said in a warning tone.

"I know. I know. There cannot be anything between you. So you have both told me for three years. But a daughter can hope, can she not? Can dream? All I want is for my Papà to be happy, again. To be with the woman he loves. And I want the same for my dearest friend," Francesca said as she reached out and took Mac's hand in hers. "I want you to be happy, to be with a man you love and who loves you for who you are. My Papà is that man."

"Oh Francesca..." Mac's voice trailed off. "I suppose if I can dream, so can you," she said quietly after she walked away.

The break soon ended, and Mac walked over to the changing area. Luciana handed her the first bra and panty set. Mac stripped out of the robe and bikini, and donned the bra and panties. Chase snapped the pictures he needed and Mac changed, again. And again. And again. Each set of underwear was skimpier than the last. But they were all your typical bra and panty sets. Some panties were G strings, and Chase made sure to photograph her derriere on those.

The next piece of lingerie Luciana handed Mac was a teddy. Well, if you could call it that, there was so little of it. Mac held it up to the light and could see Luciana through it. "Francesca! This is totally sheer!" Mac exclaimed.

"Not totally," defended Francesca. "It's semi-sheer."

"It's sheer," insisted Mac.

"You don't like it?" Francesca asked.

"Is this it? Is this the piece..." Mac was already pulling it on, when she realized that this was Francesca's newest creation. Francesca nodded. Mac pulled it up the rest of the way. Francesca stepped behind Mac and tied the tiny spaghetti straps behind her neck.

Francesca moved Mac in front of the mirror. "So. What do you think?" Francesca asked.

Mac was speechless. It was her body staring back at her in the mirror, but there was a glow surrounding her so that she couldn't actually see anything. "I don't get it," she said. "This thing is sheer, and yet I can't see through it when it's on me."

Francesca smiled and nodded. "It is a new fabric. Is it not wonderful?"

"It's amazing," Mac said as she walked toward Chase. "Well, Chase. How do you want me?"

"Oh, Mac, that is a dangerous question. But I can safely tell you that I want you on the bottom," Chase said huskily.

Mac smiled at the photographer. Chase had made passes at her each time he'd photographed her for Francesca's new line. She decided he was harmless enough, but she always made sure she was never left alone in the room with him. Certainly not in her current state of undress. "Chase..." Mac scolded.

"Let's start with you standing over here," Chase directed. He snapped the pictures; then he moved her to another spot in the room and took more pictures. Finally he directed her to the bed. Mac was used to the bed poses, so this didn't surprise her.   Finally Chase called a break for lunch. "Be back at 1:30, people!"

Mac walked back to the changing area and pulled on her own undergarments, when she heard a voice that she recognized. Recognized only too well.

"You ready for lunch, Darlin'?"

"Papà!" Francesca exclaimed. "I didn't expect you!"

Mac froze. She couldn't turn around; if she did, he'd know it was her. She couldn't put her clothes on either; he might recognize them. So she waited, standing with her back to him, dressed only in her underwear.

"You invited me," he said in an almost offended tone.

"Sì, but you said you could not come." Francesca insisted.

"Well, if you'd rather I left, I can..." The Admiral's words stopped as he looked over Francesca's shoulder and saw the back of a woman in an obvious state of undress. And she was definitely a gorgeous woman. He blinked and cleared his throat. "Uhhh, perhaps I should, um, wait outside?" he finally said.

Francesca smiled. 'He doesn't know it's her! Thank God for that!' "Sì, Papà; that would be best. I will be right out."

Saturday, 25 August 2001
1205 EDT
Ritz Carlton Hotel
Arlington, Virginia

Francesca and her father rode the elevator down to the lobby. "Francesca, if this isn't a good time for you, it's okay," AJ finally said.

Francesca smiled at her father and slipped her hand around his arm. "Just try and get away from me now!" she said. "You just surprised me, that's all. And my model was just changing and it startled her to hear your voice, I'm sure."

"She certainly has a great body," AJ muttered under his breath.

Francesca laughed lightly. "Sì, she has a fabulous body. That is exactly why I come here and use her to model my new line instead of using a model in Italy. She is perfect. But she is not a professional model, so she is nervous around new people. That's another reason I always use Chase as the photographer. She has grown comfortable with him."

"That's considerate of you, Darlin'. Apologize to her for me, will you, please?"

"Of course, Papà. That will mean a lot to her, I am certain. Now! Where shall we eat?"

Francesca assumed that her father would want to eat in the hotel restaurant, so she'd warned Mac not to go in there. It surprised Francesca when AJ said, "Why don't we go down to the food court in the mall? You can get that Haagan Dazs ice cream you love so much for dessert."

Francesca agreed, hoping that Mac wouldn't join Chase and Luciana for lunch. If they did, her father would more than likely see them; Chase always wanted to eat in the food court. And if her father saw Mac with Chase and Luciana, he would put two and two together and know that Mac was the naked model he'd just seen!

AJ and Francesca got their meals and found a table. As they sat down, Mac walked up to them. "Well, fancy meeting you here!" she said casually.

"Mac!" AJ jumped up from his seat. "Hello."

"Are you two out shopping today?" Mac asked, grinning at Francesca.

"No, Francesca is doing a photo shoot for her new line of..." AJ hesitated. "Clothing."

Mac turned to Francesca, "Clothing? I'd love to see your line sometime, Francesca."

Francesca smiled. "Oh, I think that can be arranged. Perhaps a private showing at Papà's house?"

AJ cleared his throat. "Actually, Mac, Francesca's line is um... mostly... personal items. Lingerie, nightgowns,... that sort of thing."

Mac nodded. "Oh, I see. So it would probably be better to have my private showing at my place?" she suggested.

AJ nodded. "Probably so. Would you like to join us for lunch, Mac?" he asked, effectively changing the subject.

Mac smiled. "I wouldn't want to intrude, Sir."

"Don't be silly, Mac; you could never intrude," said Francesca. "Papà talks about you all the time. Please join us for lunch." 'After all, you and I were going to have lunch together until Papà showed up!' she thought.

"What would you like, Mac?" asked AJ.

"What you have looks fine, Sir. Where did you get it?" Mac asked.

"Take a seat, Mac. I'll get you a plate and be right back," he offered and was gone before she could object.

Mac sat down. "I thought you were eating in the hotel restaurant?" Mac whispered to Francesca.

"I thought that's what he would want. He surprised me by saying he wanted to eat out here. Papà never likes food courts."

"I thought I would die when I heard his voice in the room," Mac said.

"Just be glad you had your back to him when he walked in. Can you just imagine if he'd recognized you?"

Mac shook her head, "I don't want to think about it!"

AJ returned a few minutes later with another plate of food. The three of them ate and chatted amiably. "Papà, why do we not ask Mac to join us for dinner one night while I am here? I would like that very much."

AJ looked over at Mac and smiled. She smiled back. He said, "So would I. How about it, Mac? You free for dinner tomorrow night?" When she didn't respond right away, he added, "I will, of course, invite Harm to come, too." Mac's smile faded, but Francesca's brightened, he noticed. 'Hmm, Mac isn't interested in Harm, but my daughter is. That's a new twist,' he thought. Then he thought better of it, 'No, she's probably jealous of Francesca's being there. It'll split Harm's attention. Damn.'

"Actually, Sir, I can't tomorrow night. I already have plans. But thank you for asking," Mac declined. "And, truth be told, I think Harm would probably prefer having Francesca to himself, anyway," she teased.

Mac pushed her plate away, her food only half eaten. "Mac, aren't you going to finish your lunch?" AJ asked.

"Can't. Trying to keep in shape for the race, Sir."

"Ah, yes. The JAGathon."

"JAGathon? What is that? What kind of race? Francesca asked.

"Harriett is organizing a 10K race. It's going to be sometime in late October or November, I think."

"We settled on 14 November just yesterday, Mac," AJ informed her.

Mac nodded. "Anyway, each runner gets sponsors, and all the money will go to some charity. The winner gets to have highest-rank authority for one whole day."

"So, Papà, that means you will not run? Because you are already the highest rank?" Francesca asked.

"I thought I'd run anyway. Just to make some of 'em sweat!" AJ retorted.

Mac laughed. "I'm more of a jogger of late than a runner, but I'm trying to get back into running. Just so I can be sure I at least finish."

AJ smiled. "I run almost every day, Mac. You're welcome to come run with me; I can help you train."

Mac looked at him. "You'd do that, Sir?" He nodded. "That would be wonderful, Admiral. Thank you. Yes, I'd like that very much. When do we start?"

They made plans to begin running together three times a week. "You'll be in fine shape by 14 November; you'll have no trouble at all finishing the race, Mac. Might even win! So, who's ready for ice cream?" AJ asked as he gathered up their empty plates. They all laughed. "Ice cream and running. Why not?"

"None for me, Sir. I have to get going. I have to be somewhere by 1330," Mac explained. "Thank you for lunch, Admiral. And for offering to coach me with my running. I'll see you at 0545 on Monday morning."

Mac left, and AJ and Francesca headed for the Haagan Dazs store. When Francesca returned to the hotel suite, Mac was already dressed in the next peignoir set and Chase was beginning to shoot.

By 1545, Mac had modeled all of Francesca's new pieces and Chase had dozens of rolls of film to develop. "Don't forget to choose which pieces you want, Mac. I will send them to you, as usual."

Mac and Francesca went back through all the pieces and Mac chose the ones she liked the best. "Oh, I need you to send them to the office, this time, Francesca. I've been having trouble receiving packages at home. The mailman says he leaves them, but they're not there when I get home. Be sure to mark the package 'Personal' so Tiner doesn't open it."

"Okay, I'll send it to your office then," Francesca agreed. "It will be at least October before I can send them. These are the originals, of course, and I have to have others made before I can let these go," Francesca reminded her.

"Francesca, I have no one to wear these for right now anyway, so it doesn't matter when I get them."

"I wish Papà could see you in them."

"So do I," Mac sighed aloud without realizing it.

Continue to Part 2