The Illusive Model - Part 2

Wednesday, 3 October 2001
0935 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

The bullpen was in an uproar when Mac walked in. "What's going on?" she asked Commander Sturgis Turner, who was standing next to the water cooler out of everyone's way. "I was only gone to the ladies room for 5 minutes and it looks like all hell broke loose!"

He grinned at her. "Package arrived and there's some white powder leaking out of it. Lieutenant Singer called Security."

"Anthrax?" Mac whispered.

"That's what they're checking for, of course. But I've never heard of Anthrax being perfumed!" Before Sturgis could explain, the Admiral came storming out of his office.

"What the hell is going on out here?!"

"Attention on deck!" called Gunnery Sergeant Galindez.

The Admiral left them standing at attention. He looked around the room and picked on Lieutenant Bud Roberts. He looked like he was in the thick of things. "Lieutenant Roberts, what is going on?"

"Admiral, Sir," began Singer.

The Admiral jerked his head to face her. "When did you change your name, Lieutenant?"

"Sir?"

"I asked Lieutenant Roberts for an explanation. Not you. So keep your mouth shut!" he barked. The Admiral turned back to Bud. "Lieutenant?"

"Well, Sir, it seems that a package arrived a few minutes ago for Colonel MacKenzie. And when Lieutenant Singer cut into the package, white powder came out of the opening, Admiral. She called Security and they came up to investigate, Sir."

The Admiral replied, "The package was addressed to Colonel MacKenzie, you said?" Bud nodded. "And who is the package from, Lieutenant?"

"It's from Italy, Sir. I can't read the return address; it's in Italian," Bud said.

"Italy?" the Admiral said, surprised. "Colonel? Are you expecting a package from Italy?" Mac nodded. The Admiral walked over to the desk and looked at the return label on the package. "Le Lussurie Private, Milan... Mac? Le Lussurie Private is my daughter's line," he accused, turning to stare at her. "What would Francesca be send..." He stopped when he realized what must be in the package. "But what about this powder?"

Mac stepped forward, "Sir, Francesca always includes a fragrance sachet in her packages. My guess would be when Lieutenant Singer slit the package open, she slit the sachet." Then she muttered under her breath, "She better not have slit anything else."

The Admiral looked at the package, again. "Lieutenant Singer, this package is addressed to Colonel MacKenzie and is clearly marked 'Personal'. Care to tell me why you were opening it?"

"Sir, since the threat of anthrax surfaced, all packages are opened and examined before they..."

"And when a package is marked 'Personal', Lieutenant, the addressee is present when the package is opened and examined!" he barked. "You disregarded that. You opened a personal package addressed to a senior officer and ruined at least one item contained in that package. Not to mention you caused an unnecessary scare in this office!" the Admiral yelled. He turned to Mac and said, "Colonel, open your package and see what else the good Lieutenant ruined." Mac stepped forward to pick up the package as the Admiral finished his tirade, "You, Lieutenant, will reimburse the Colonel for anything that is ruined in that package. And I'll give you a hint... my daughter's line is very expensive."

Mac was almost in her office with the package in her arms when Bud spoke up. "Excuse me, Sir, but I'm afraid the Colonel needs to open that in the presence of at least two other..."

"Damn," she swore under her breath. 'I should have taken the chance and had her ship it to the apartment. Better not to even receive it than the whole office see these things.'

"As you were, people! Lieutenant Sims. With me!" barked the Admiral. He walked into Mac's office and Harriett followed. Mac stood just outside in the bullpen, still clutching the package. "Colonel? Are you coming?" he queried.

Mac looked up at him. "Yes, Sir!" And she followed them into her office.

"Close the hatch, Lieutenant," the Admiral ordered. Harriett shut the door. He looked at Mac and said, "I figured you'd tell Harriett anyway, Mac. And since I already know what's in the package, well..."

"You know, Sir?" gasped Mac.

He looked at her sideways. "Of course I know. My daughter's line is lingerie, Mac. There's a sachet in the package? There's sure to be lingerie."

"Have you ever seen any of her line, Sir?" asked Mac hesitantly.

"I've seen pictures," he replied. "Now I'll see the real thing."

Harriett smiled; it sounded logical to her. "Would you like me to open it, Ma'am?" she offered.

Mac just stood, gaping at the Admiral. 'Oh God! Does he know I'm the model for all this stuff? I'm dead.'

Mac wasn't answering, so Harriett looked at the Admiral for guidance. He nodded to her, and she finished opening the package, very carefully. Harriett pulled out the first tissue-wrapped bundle and unwrapped it. She held it up. "How beautiful!" Harriett held up a peignoir set. "The fabric is so soft. Oh, Colonel, this is just lovely." Harriett handed the set to the Admiral.

"Very nice, Mac," he said softly, trying not to smile as he imagined Mac wearing the peignoir.

Harriett pulled out another bundle and freed it from its tissue wrapping. She gasped. "Oh my God!" She started to hand it to Mac instead of the Admiral, but he held out his hand, and Harriett handed the garment to him.

He held it up in front of him and stared at it in a daze. Finally, he turned to Mac and said, "What is this?"

Mac smiled weakly and said, "Francesca's latest and greatest, Sir. She calls it her 'Teddi Angelo'."

"Angel Teddy?" he translated. "How the hell does she get 'angel' out of this? It's completely sheer!"

"Actually, Sir, it's semi-sheer," replied Mac quietly.

"The hell it is!" he barked as he held it up and looked at her through it. "I can see you through it, Mac. That's sheer."

"It's different on, Sir. It really is semi-sheer when it's on the body," Mac insisted. He looked at her disbelievingly. "I didn't believe it either, Admiral, until I tried it on and... well, it sort of just makes you glow. Well, not you. Me. I mean..." Mac stumbled. "If you saw me in it, you'd know what I mean," she blurted.

"If I saw you in it?" he repeated. "And do you intend to model it for me, Mac?" he asked, his voice very husky. Realizing what he'd said, he backpedaled. "This is a JAG office, not a fashion show."

"No, Sir, of course not. This is certainly not the place to model anything. The lighting isn't right. If I put this on in here, you probably could see my body right through it..." she stammered. "Oh, um, that isn't what I... Oh God..."

Harriett grinned. She'd never seen these two quite so uncomfortable as they were right now. Mac was embarrassing herself with her words and the Admiral? Well, he was certainly having trouble; his breathing was shallow and his voice was definitely strained.

"What else is in that package, Harriett?" he asked, turning his attention away from Mac and envisioning her in the 'Teddi Angelo'.

Mac answered for her, "A couple of bikinis, three sets of bras and panties, two nightgowns, and a robe, Sir. Not including the teddy. And the sachet."

'Bikinis, bras, panties... Good God, I have to get out of here!' "Fine. Package inspected. Carry on," he said as he grabbed the door and flung it open, heading for his office.

Harm walked into Mac's office. "So, what was in the package, Mac?" Harm asked.

"None of your business," she replied.

"Mac, you're as red as a beet. What's in there that embarrassed you so?"

"None of your business," she repeated.

"Harriett?" Harm turned his attention to her. Harriett looked at Mac then back at Harm. She didn't say a word.

Wednesday, 3 October 2001
1945 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Mac stood up and stretched. She was finally at a good stopping point. She placed her current files in her briefcase and snapped it shut. Then she remembered the package from Francesca. "Oh, great. Why didn't I take that out to the car earlier?" she complained to herself. "Oh well. Let's see if I can manage both my briefcase and the package." She picked up the package in her arms and then grabbed the briefcase. "Damn! My cover," she realized as she saw it sitting on the edge of her desk. She set both items back down on her desk and grabbed her cover.

"Need some help?" the Admiral asked from just behind her.

Mac spun around and almost fell into him. "Admiral, Sir! I didn't realize you were still here."

"Just on my way out, Mac. Let me get this for you," he said as he picked up the package.

Mac wasn't about to stand there and argue with him. "Thank you, Sir."

"So, did you call Francesca and tell her about the fiasco this package caused this morning?" he asked as they walked to the elevator.

"No, Sir. I figured you'd have done that!" she smiled.

AJ laughed. "Me!? I'm not going to tell my daughter I nearly lost it thinking of you in that... er, um... I mean..." he stammered.

Mac stared at him. "Sir?"

"The sachet. I meant the, uh... the powder. I was concerned that the powder might..."

Mac laughed. "I'll bet you were, Admiral."

They stepped into the elevator and Mac pressed the Lobby button. They rode down in silence and exited the building side by side. Because he was carrying her package, the Admiral walked Mac to her car, placing the package in the passenger seat. "Thank you, Admiral," Mac said as he shut the door and stepped over to her side of the car.

He grinned in return. "You going to wear one of those to bed tonight, Mac?" he smirked.

Mac could feel herself blushing. She decided to turn the tables on him. "Which one did you prefer, Admiral?" she asked as innocently as she could.

He was taken aback for a moment, not anticipating her question. He resolved not to let her beat him at this. "The sheer one," he finally said. "Of course, I didn't get to actually see all of them."

"That can be arranged," she purred. His eyes grew wide and his grin slipped just a bit. "My favorite is the semi-sheer one, too, though," Mac continued.

"Sheer."

"Semi-sheer."

"Sheer."

"Semi-sheer."

"I guess we'll always disagree about that one, Mac," the Admiral said.

"Until I model it for you, anyway," Mac replied.

"Until?  Is that an offer?"

Mac smiled sadly. "I wish," she breathed so softly he almost didn't hear her. But he did. She continued a bit louder, "But if it was, it would be the end of our careers. No, Sir. It was merely a comment."

AJ backed away from her car. "Comment duly noted, Colonel. Good night. See you in the morning at the park. 0530 sharp."

"I'll be there, Sir. We increase to the full 10K tomorrow, don't we?" she asked.

He nodded. "I think you're ready for it."

Wednesday, 3 October 2001
2215 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac had stripped out of her uniform as soon as she got home and tried on all the items in the package from Francesca. Her favorite was still the teddy. She was startled when the phone rang. She leaned over the bed and grabbed the receiver. "Hello?"

"Am I disturbing you?" he asked.

"Admiral?" she was really surprised now. The Admiral never called her at home unless there was a major problem at JAG. And he certainly never began a call asking if he was disturbing her. "Is something wrong, Sir?"

"Nothing wrong, Mac, no. I just thought it best to apologize for my comments earlier this evening. I was out of line, Mac. I had no right to..."

"No apologies necessary, Sir."

"Yes, Mac, I'm afraid there are."

"Then you'll have to wait until I say mine first, AJ," she answered boldly.

AJ was silent. 'She called me "AJ". Dear God, could she actually have meant what she said? Was she not teasing...but wishing...desiring...me?'

Finally he broke the silence. "No apologies then."

"Good."

"I should let you get ready for bed, Mac..."

"I'm ready," she interrupted him.

The tension was thick between them, even over the phone. "So, which one do you have on?" he whispered.

"Teddi Angelo," she purred back to him, and she heard him moan.

"Good night, Mac."

"Sweet dreams, Admiral."

"They will be, Mac," he said hanging up his phone. "Believe me, they will be."

Monday, 22 October 2001
0905 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

The officers were all gathered around the conference room table waiting for the Admiral's arrival. Petty Officer Tiner had already informed them that the Admiral would be a few minutes late to the weekly staff meeting; he was on a priority call with the SecNav.

Mac was flipping through her notes, while Bud and Harriett were discussing how they wanted to redecorate the nursery. "He isn't a baby anymore, Harriett. He's a little boy; I think the butterflies and flowers need to make way for cars and trains," Bud said.

Harm and Sturgis were discussing the Redskins win over the Panthers Sunday night. "Man, the Panthers just didn't pull through last night. I couldn't believe it!" said Sturgis.

"Yeah, they were pretty bad," agreed Harm.

"The Redskins walked all over them," Sturgis shook his head. "I wanted to yell at them to go put their jammies on and let Mommy kiss them good night! I mean, they were..."

As Bud saw the Admiral open the door and walk in, he called, "Attention!"

"Keep your seats," the Admiral said. "What's this about Mommy kissing someone good night, Commander?"

"Um, Admiral, Sir, Commander Rabb and I were just discussing the Redskins/Panthers game of last night."

"So, you wanted to send the Panthers home to mommy, did you, Commander?" the Admiral joked.

"In their jammies, Sir," smirked Mac.

The Admiral's eyes sparkled and he quirked his eyebrow. "Their jammies?" he asked, looking from Mac over to Harm and Sturgis, who grinned.

"Of course, I'm sure they don't look half as good in their jammies as you do, Mac," Harm quipped. Mac flushed.

"And you would know that, how, Commander?" barked the Admiral. He was imagining Harm seeing Mac in one of Francesca's designs. And he didn't like it. Not one bit. 'I want her for myself. I want her wearing those things for me. Not Harm. Not Mic. Not anyone else. Me!!'

"Well, Sir, I rather surprised Mac on Saturday night. Caught her in her pajamas, ready for bed." Harm grinned. "Purple satin," he added as Mac's face turned as red as a tomato. "Mmm, looked mighty good, Mac," he teased as he saw what affect his words were having on her. What he failed to notice was the Admiral's angry glare at him. But everyone else noticed it.

"Let's get this damned meeting started!" the Admiral barked.

When the meeting was over an hour later, Mac grabbed Harm's arm and whispered angrily, "Don't you ever do that to me, again, do you hear me?"

Harm turned to her. "What? What did I do?" he asked feigning innocence.

"Harm, I swear, if you ever embarrass me like that in front of him, again, I'll... I'll..."

"You'll what, Mac?" Harm grinned as he draped his arms over Mac's shoulders. "You'll what, Mac?" he repeated.

Mac stepped backwards and ran into a chair. Harm reached out to steady her but she fought him off, causing her to loose her balance. "Mac!" he yelled as she fell back over the chair, which toppled on top of her. She grabbed another chair to try to right herself before going down completely, but that chair was already unsettled because of the first. Mac ended up in a heap on the floor with two heavy conference room chairs pinning her down. One of her legs was stuck between the arms of the two chairs, such that Harm was looking right up her skirt.

"Damn it, Harm! Get these chairs off of me!" she yelled. Mac's outburst, along with the noise of the chairs falling, brought several people back to the conference room.

"Colonel!" "Mac!" "Colonel" cried Sturgis, Bud, and Harriett. "Are you hurt, Ma'am?"

"No, I'm not hurt!" she barked. "Just get me out of this mess!"

Harriett rushed to Mac's head and held it up off the floor. Bud and Sturgis held the chairs still while Harm tried to disentangle Mac's limbs from them. Just as he was about to have her leg freed, the Admiral blew in the door. "What's going on in... Mac! What happened?"

"Admiral!" cried Bud, loosing his grip on the chair for an instant, which let it start sliding. Harriett reached to grab it before it fell back on Mac, but in so doing, she dropped Mac's head. Thud! Her head hit a support spoke on the chair.

"Colonel!" Harriett cried. "Oh my God! She's out!!"

The Admiral took over. "Up! Everyone up and out of my way! Now!!" he yelled. The officers all stepped back. AJ quickly disentangled Mac's leg from the chairs, and threw the chairs aside. He lifted her head. He felt the wetness immediately. Turning her head slightly, he saw the blood oozing from her head. "Call an ambulance," he ordered. "How the hell did this happen?" he demanded.

"We were talking, Admiral, and Mac stepped backwards. She ran into the chair and started to fall. I tried to grab her and she fought me, Sir. That's when she went down."

"Why would she have fought you?" AJ asked, moving back to her head and cradling it in his large hands.

"I don't know, Sir. She's never fought me before," Harm said softly. "I think she was a little angry that I mentioned her pajamas to you, Admiral."

Mac began to moan and toss her head. AJ held it still. "Shh, Mac, be still now," he said as he stroked her hair.

Mac moaned, again. "Ooohh...hurts..." she said.

"Shh, Mac. You're going to be just fine," AJ whispered to her. "Shh, now, just lie still."

He moved to examine her legs to be sure there were no obvious breaks. As he worked his hands up her right leg, she purred, "Mmm, higher...higher..."

The Admiral ignored her comments. 'Probably thinks it's Rabb doing this,' he fussed to himself. Then he checked her other leg and her arms. She started to move, again. "Mac, lie still," he ordered a little forcefully. He moved to a sitting position on the floor and pulled Mac's head onto his lap.

"Mmm, anything you ask, AJ," she murmured. "Just kiss me."

The Admiral was stunned. ' "AJ? Anything you ask? Kiss me?" Oh, God...' He glanced up at his officers. They all wore masked expressions. All, except Harriett, who stood there smiling broadly.

"The ambulance is on its way, Sir," said Harriett when he looked at her.

AJ nodded. "Go get her purse and cover from her office and bring them in here. She'll want them at the hospital."

"Aye, aye, Sir," replied Harriett as she left the room, but not before she heard Mac's next words.

"Mmm, AJ... 'Teddi Angelo'... only for you... semi-sheer," she murmured.

"Sheer," he whispered back.

"I'll prove it..." were Mac's last words before she fell unconscious, again.

Tuesday, 23 October 2001
0945 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

"Colonel MacKenzie! What the hell are you doing here?" bellowed Admiral Chegwidden when he saw her entering the bullpen the next morning. All activity stopped.

Mac stopped in her tracks and looked at the Admiral. His tone was harsh, but his face was gentle... concerned. "Admiral, Sir, good morning. I'm fine, Sir. Really."

"Colonel, you were hospitalized over night. Now since that is a different uniform than you had on yesterday, I'm going to assume that you at least went home from the hospital this morning before coming in here." Mac nodded, impressed that he realized she had on a different uniform. "What I want to know is why you chose to disobey a direct order and come to work today?" he barked.

Mac looked at him like he had two heads. "Sir? I don't recall having received such an order." She heard several gasps around the room; it wasn't often that anyone crossed the Admiral or questioned what he said.

"Well, that would probably be because you were asleep when I gave it last night," admitted the Admiral with a slight grin. "But, Mac, really. What are you doing here? You should be at home today."

"I'm fine, Sir. Really."

"You're even repeating yourself, Mac," he said. "What did you do, rehearse your 'I'm fine, Sir. Really.' speech in the car on the way here?"

"No, Sir. Actually I rehearsed it at the hospital before I left this morning," she smiled. When his stance relaxed a bit, she continued. "Admiral, the doctor said I was cleared for all activities. The MRI and the CAT scan came back clear. I'm really perfectly fine."

He sighed heavily and nodded. "Okay, Mac. But I want you to take at least an hour's break at noon, and I want you out of here no later than 1600 this afternoon."

Mac was going to argue, but she knew that voice. It brooked no argument. "Aye, Sir," she agreed.

Tuesday, 23 October 2001
1315 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

As the Admiral exited the elevator and entered the bullpen, Gunny called, "Attention on deck!"

"As you were!" AJ called. He glanced around, as usual, and saw Mac in her office with her door closed. She was bent over her desk with her head lying on her crossed arms; her eyes closed. AJ spoke to Gunny. "She been to lunch yet?"

Gunny shook his head. "No, Sir. I reminded her several times of the hour, Admiral. She kept saying, 'In a minute, Gunny'. When she finally laid her head down, I closed her door. She's been like that for about 45 minutes, Admiral. I was going to close the blinds, but I was afraid I'd wake her, Sir."

AJ nodded and walked to her office. He quietly opened the door and shut it behind him. He immediately closed the blinds, effectively blocking them from the onlookers in the bullpen. AJ walked over to Mac's desk and gently laid his hand on her head, stroking it so lightly, she would hardly have felt it if she was awake. His touch gradually got firmer, but she was used to it now...subconsciously...and she didn't lash out as she would normally have when surprised.

"Mmm, that feels good," she murmured.

"I'm glad you like it," he whispered.

"I'm having the best dreams lately. This one, too," Mac purred.

"Are you dreaming, Mac?" his words were so soft, so tender.

"Mmm, I must be. You're here with me. You're petting me."

"No, Mac, I'm not petting you. I'm stroking your hair, but I'm not petting you," he corrected quietly. 'I'd like to be petting you. God knows, I'd love to be...'

"I wish you were. I want you to. I want you to touch me. To hold me. To make love to me."

AJ couldn't stand it. He knew she wasn't saying those things about him. They had to be about Rabb. And he wanted to know. "Mac, who are you dreaming about?"

"You."

"Am I Harm?" he asked.

"No."

He smiled. 'Not Harm? Hmm, that's good.' "Am I Mic?"

"Bye bye, Brumby," she said flippantly.

"I'm not Harm. And I'm not Mic. Who am I, Mac?" he was still stroking her hair.

"Mmm, AJ. My wonderful AJ," she purred.

AJ's face lit up. 'She's dreaming of me! She wants me!' Then he realized what it meant. 'Oh God, this is not good. I have to get her out of here before someone else walks in here and hears this.'

"Mac, can you wake up now?" AJ put his hands on her shoulders and brought her up from her chair. "I need to take you home now, Darlin'," he said, slipping when he said the endearment.

" 'Darlin'.' I've wanted you to call me that for so long," Mac said as she lifted her face to his. "Kiss me, AJ. Kiss me now," she whispered urgently.

AJ couldn't help himself. His arms were surrounding the one woman he'd secretly loved for over six years. His mouth was inches from hers. And she was begging him to kiss her. He lowered his head to her and captured her mouth in his. As he was pulling away, she pressed closer to his body and moved her arms around his neck, pulling him back when a quiet knock on the door startled them. He pulled himself away instantly and sat Mac back in the chair gently.

AJ strode to the door and opened it, finding Harm on the other side. "What is it, Commander?" he demanded.

"Sir, I was just made aware that the Colonel hadn't taken lunch yet, Sir, and I was just checking on her," Harm said guardedly. He didn't mention that Gunny also told him that the Admiral went in there over 20 minutes ago and they hadn't heard a thing since.

"She's just waking up, Commander. Give me a couple of minutes to be sure she's really with it. And then I want you to take her home. She shouldn't be here today. She belongs at home in bed."

"Aye, aye, Sir," Harm said, noticing the flush on the Admiral's face. 'Uh oh. I'll bet she was talking in her sleep, again, like yesterday.'

The Admiral closed the door and turned back to Mac. She was standing now, but her back was to him; she was staring out the window.

"Colonel? Are you awake now?" AJ asked cautiously.

She nodded. "How long was I asleep, Sir?"

"Well, that's a new one, Mac. You don't know how long you were asleep?"

She shook her head. Actually, she knew exactly how long she'd slept. But if she told him, he would know that she was wide awake almost from the time he entered her office. And he could never know that she knew what she was doing when she said those words to him. When she kissed him.

Continue to Part 3