::  Murder In Baltimore  ::

Chapter Thirty Nine

Sometime in the night she woke and looked at the man sleeping next to her -his arm holding her securely to him. She leveraged herself up and watched him. It was only a few seconds before he stirred and opened his eyes. This time he allowed himself to fall into the depths of the incredible green eyes that had so intrigued him. He pulled her down to him, capturing her lips. She moaned as his mouth engulfed her tongue. She began her own exploration, licking the roof of his mouth, driving him wild. He moved her so that she rested on her back, his body partially covering her. He brought his fingers up to trace her jaw and trail along her ear. As he slowly traced the whorls, he watched her eyes close in ecstasy. He bent over and kissed her again. Pulling her lower lip into his mouth, worrying it with his teeth. His hand finally reached her breast. Slowly, he pushed open the jacket. Just as his hand found top button of her blouse, she broke the kiss and looked into his eyes and smiled.

She pushed him away and stood up. He followed, but before he could grab her she glided away from him toward the back of the large apartment. He swallowed and silently prayed she was leading him to the bedroom. She opened a door and turned to look at him before entering the room. When he reached the doorway, he stopped in awe. Where the living room had obviously been designed as a place to entertain large groups of people, the room he was about to enter was a very personal, very cozy room. The only light was shed from two small Tiffany wall sconces on the wall by her dressing table. They cast a warm glow that caught just enough of the room to show the very large four poster bed in the center of the room. AJ spared a precious moment to study the sturdy posts and noted that the foot of the bedstead was below the height of the mattress. The vertical frame was covered in a heavy damask, tied back around each post; the pattern was lost in the shadows. He pulled his gaze away to survey the rest of the room and thought he saw a fireplace opening across the room but it was too dim to make out.

What he could see clearly took his breath away. She was standing in front of the old fashion dressing table staring at his reflection in the overlarge tri-mirror. She had taken her jacket off and flung it across a flowery little chair at the side of the vanity. He shed his uniform jacket and hung it from the doorknob of the closet to his left. He toed off his shoes and socks and walked up behind her. He stared into the mirror and met her eyes. He brought his hands up to her shoulders. He had meant to turn her around, but the reflection mesmerized him. Instead he softly caressed her arms. She smiled at his image and seductively began to unbutton the white silk blouse. When she was finished with the last button, she allowed him to pull it off her. He bent his head down to her neck and began to kiss and nibble at it. She groaned her approval, and allowed him to play for a while. He loosened her hair and ran his fingers through the silky strands. His hands kneaded her arms and his fingers made small furtive strokes against the sides of her bra-clad breasts.

He finally straightened and met her eye in the mirror again. Seeing encouragement and lust, he quickly stripped off his tie and then his shirt, tossing them both in the general direction of the ridiculous little chair. While he was thus occupied, she divested herself of her skirt, slip and pantyhose all in one swift downward motion. As she bent over, she ground her silk clad bottom into his erection, drawing an almost animalistic growl from his throat. He grabbed her ass and rocked into her. Their eyes met again in the mirror, a wave of shock and lust nearly overtaking them. She stood, keeping her eyes locked onto his, and reached behind her to unhook the white silk bra. As her breasts spilled from it, AJ reached around her and gently took one in each of his massive hands. He caressed and stroked and teased them. Cassie was unsure what was the bigger turn-on, his touch and or being able to watch him pleasure her in the mirror. He pinched the coral pink nipples and pulled them taunt. She arched her back in pleasure, throwing her head back and up so that he could finally claim her mouth in a searing kiss, his tongue demanding entrance, plunging deep into her eager mouth.

Finally, she took his hands in hers and gently pushed them away. Breaking contact with his lips she turned to face him at last, her lips just reaching his nipples. She teased them through his undershirt, her hands pulling at it, working it out of his slacks. He groaned at the sensation, gently running his fingers up and down either side of her rib cage. She worked his shirt to the point where he had to help her get it over his head. Then she began in earnest. She ran her hands through the hair on his chest, loving the feel of it on her fingers. She knew that he couldn’t keep from watching her - them - in the mirror and strove to prolong the torture. Finally she worked her hands down his chest to rest on his belt buckle. She looked up, pleased to see that he had pulled his attention away from the show in the mirror and gazed deeply into her eyes. Without taking her eyes from him, she worked the belt buckle open and then the button on his waistband. She watched his expression as she slowly, teasingly pulled down the zipper. She followed the pants down until she was kneeling before him. Her lips inches from his straining shaft. She reached up and pulled his briefs down, making sure to pull his cock downward too. Just as she freed his erection, allowing the briefs to join his pants at his feet, he grabbed her hair, forcing her to look back up at him. He gasped out, "I won’t last long if you…"

Before he could finish, she grinned wickedly and grasped his cock, in her small hand. The sensation forced him to release her hair and her mouth engulfed his thick head. Slowly pumping him with her hand and licking and sucking what she could take in, she heard him moan, felt him gently kneading her head. She felt him holding back, she knew he wouldn’t take control and begin thrusting into his mouth. But most of all she knew that he couldn’t keep from watching her in the mirror. The images she knew he was seeing nearly made her come. AJ must have felt it too because just as she pulled her mouth from him and playfully blew on his oh so very hot shaft, he reached down and roughly grabbed her by her upper arms, forcing her to release her hand from his base.

AJ pulled Cassie into a passionate kiss, the taste of him on her lips a heady aphrodisiac. She started to raise one foot to tease the back of his leg, when he broke the kiss and turned her back around to face the mirror. Her eyes widen in pleased surprised. He pulled her against him, his cock hard against her back. He stepped out of the clothes pooled at his feet, kicking them away. His hands came up and began to rub and tease her breasts again, but this time they didn’t linger. Instead he began to work his way down toward her soaked white panties. He roughly grabbed the thin silky material and ripped them from her, exposing her deep red tuft. He kept his eyes on hers and saw that she was so very close. Gently he began stroking her, teasing her opening. Finally, for the first time since she had gotten up from the couch he heard her voice, "Oh God, Oh AJ, please, please, pleasepleaseplease." He pushed one of his thick fingers into her opening, exploring her depths, his thumb began circling and teasing her clit. He held her tight against him, his cock throbbing in his desire. He watched her reflection as her orgasm began, her eyes finally fluttered shut, her back pushing against him so hard he thought he would come with her. She finally screamed his name and fell forward onto the center of the vanity, exposing her glistening sex to him. He took his cock and began to rub her opening. He wasn’t sure that he could pull it off though, he was so much taller than she was. He looked back into the mirror and saw that she was staring at him, waiting for him, wanting him this way. Finally realizing his predicament, she smiled at him languidly and pushed away from the table, not caring when several small bottles, a brush, and her hairpins scattered to the floor as she did.

He thought she was going to push him to the bed, but instead she grinned up at him and walked over to the closet. She opened the door and bent from the waist, torturing him with the view, obviously searching for something. When she reached in and turned back to him he saw what was dangling from her fingers. He grinned in pleasure as she slipped on the same spiked shoes she had worn that night at the Goth club. She walked up to him sexily swaying. She ran her finger down his chest, through the darkening path of hair leading to his cock, finally, gently, teasing the tip. "They don’t call them ‘come fuck me’ shoes for nothing, AJ."

He grabbed the back of her neck drawing her up for one last searing kiss before turning her back to face the mirror. He bent her over, and watched her expression as he took his now painfully engorged cock and placed it at her opening. He waited for a half a beat and then plunged into her in one smooth stroke. He watched to make sure that he hadn’t hurt her but saw only a look of complete satisfaction and pleasure. "Yessssss" was all she said but her grinding back into him to seat herself even further let him know just how much she wanted this too. He began an agonizing rhythm, slowly pulling nearly all the way out of her and then plunging back in. He bent into her and began to kiss and suck at her shoulder listening to her whimpered pleas of "Harder, faster, more." But, he kept his leisurely pace as long as he could until he saw that she was on the verge again. Just as her vaginal walls clamped down on him, he picked up his pace and soon was ramming into her, all thoughts of control gone. Finally, with one last deep thrust, he bit down on her shoulder and came with a force that he hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

He used the last ounce of his strength to keep from falling into her. He pulled her back, and as his cock fell from her he was able to fall onto the bed. They lay for awhile curled together at the foot of her bed, when the cold finally forced them to sit up and crawl to the headboard. He allowed her to pull back the covers and situate herself, before falling down next to her. He gasped out, "Dear God, woman, you are going to kill me."

He propped up on his elbow and stared down into her eyes, the lamplight just barely making it to where they lay. She was reclining on her back, so close to him that his other hand had no where else to go but to rest lightly on her stomach. She grinned up at him and panted, "But you liked it, right?"

His eyes grew wide. His heart rate felt like he had just run 20 miles with a full pack. "Liked it? Cassie, that was every fantasy I have had about you this past week, rolled into one. Yeah, I liked it."

As her heart rate calmed, she looked at him mischievously. "Oh, you’ve had fantasies about me, huh? Well that’s good, cause I’ve had a few myself."

He couldn’t help himself. His finger began to lazily trace a path on her stomach, no real intention of anything really; he just found that he like touching her. He knew his limitations and at his age, he had long since stopped expecting to "get it up" like he had when he was younger. And by rights, after what he had just done, he would be thankful if he were able to perform again in the morning. But, he could see that she was enjoying his ministrations. His tone serious, he asked. "Fantasies, huh? Tell me about them."

She closed her eyes to the sensations of his fingers. She hadn’t done anything like this in a very long time. In fact, if she was being completely honest with herself, she had never done anything quite like what they had just done. <<<God, Ryan! "They don’t call them come fuck me shoes for nothing." Girl your mother would…>>> Definitely not wanting to take that exit ramp, she allowed his gentle massage to claim her attention.

"Oh, one or two." She admitted coyly. "You first. When did you first think about me this way?"

He allowed his finger to trace up between her beautiful orbs and on to her slender neck. He didn't talk about things like this. Men weren’t supposed to, were they? He thought that his caresses would still her, but she persisted.

"When AJ?"

He closed his eyes and pondered. The dreams had been nebulous at best, except one. He cleared his throat and after a stumbling first try he told her. "The night Webb was shot, the night you found me in the Goth club. God, Cassie, I couldn’t believe the way you looked; just so damn sexy."

She had been worried that he thought she had looked like a tramp that night. She was pleased beyond measure that he had been turned on by her. His hand had traveled south again this time trailing along her arm that was resting on the bed. "What did you want to do that night, AJ?"

He took a deep breath and groaned. "I dreamed that night that I had dragged you into the alley and that I, that we…" Words failed him and instead he bent and took her mouth in a sweet consuming kiss. When he had finished he saw that she was still waiting patiently, a little breathless again, but still waiting. "I dreamed that I took you right there in the alleyway. That I pushed your skirt up and that I plunged into you."

He started to look away from her in embarrassment when he felt her small hand come up and touch his cheek. "I had that same dream too. But I had one the night after I arranged for Lee to get jailed next to Galindez. I ‘booked’ him in and then saw the cells. That night I dreamed that you and I were in one of those cells." She saw his shocked, yet lustful look. "Thank God for vibrators, is all I can say." As soon as she said the words, she wished with all her might she could take them back. Even in the dim light he could see her blush.

She saw something then that she knew she would never grow tired of seeing. A small, devilish ‘almost’ grin, quirked at the corner of his mouth. She felt his fingers trail down to her bush, slowly swirling through the matted mess there. She was still tender from their earlier lovemaking and thought that she would be too sensitive to sustain his touch. But, instead she felt the familiar stirrings begin again. A slow Texas drawl that she hadn’t really noticed before was more evident when he spoke now. "A vibrator, huh? Just where did a upstanding officer of the law find a vibrator?"

She tried to look over at him, but the sensations his fingers were causing, now that they had reached her folds were causing her problems with her speech. "I…uhm...there’s this little shop…oh yes, AJ, just like that." She arched her back trying to get his hand a little closer, when suddenly the sensation was gone. She wailed in frustration and opened her eyes. She saw a speculative grin on his face, his hand once again resting on her stomach. She whimpered, "What? Why did you stop? AJ, please."

His hand came up and grasping her head pulled her to him and kissed her again, his tongue just grazing her lips. He laid her back and she was shocked to hear him demand. "Show me."

She gulped and shook her head. But she saw a look that she had seen several times since she had known him. Stubborn, commanding. Her blush reached the tops of her breasts. "AJ, no…I can’t…I." She knew she could lie to him, tell him that she no longer had it. She knew that if she said ‘no’ again that he wouldn’t push it. But, she remembered his gaze in the mirror as he had taken her, the lust in his eyes. She wanted to see that look again. She licked her lips and whispered. "Behind you, in the nightstand drawer."

He lay back on the pillow and reached over and opened the drawer. He pulled out a shiny chrome cylinder about 7" inches long. He rolled back over and smiled wickedly at her. "Someday, you will tell me where you picked this little toy up at." Examining it closely, he realized that he hadn’t see one of these in years. He saw the small switch at the bottom and flicked it on. Her eyes grew very large and then began to glaze over. He held it out to her. Again he demanded. "Show me."

Instead of talking it from him, she reached up and guided his hand down toward her breasts. He allowed her to show him just were to place the tip. He watched in fascination, as her nipples grew impossibly hard. He barely touched the surface of her skin and then began to explore with it. Her hand fell away and grabbed the sheet beside her. He drew the vibrator across her belly and watched as she began to thrash her head back and forth at the sensation. She began to keen loudly as he finally brought the instrument toward her now drippy pussy. He lowered himself down to lay on his side, using his other arm to embrace and hold her. He finally growled, surprised at his own shortness of breath, "Open your eyes Cassie, look at me." For a moment he thought she couldn’t comply but she forced herself to meet his gaze just as he inserted the shiny tip into her. He prayed fervently that the floor and the ceiling below them were thick because her scream of ecstasy reverberated off the walls of the bedroom. He gently pulled out the vibrator and laid it on the bed next to her. He pulled her into his arms and stroked her, feeling the tiny aftershocks of her passion. He kissed her damp hair and then her eyes. They finally fluttered open and he saw so much love there that he knew that he would never let her go. <<<How in the hell did you come to this place, this late in life Chegwidden? You are never going to be able to keep up with her.>>>

As her breathing finally returned to normal, she was able to manage a tiny, "Wow!"

He smiled, "Wow?"

"Oh, yeah." Suddenly her face took on a feral look. "Pay backs a bitch, Admiral."

Before he could stop her, she had forced him over onto his back. Before he could reach out to hold her, she had straddled his chest and her knees were planted firmly on his forearms. He could have dislodged her, but he didn’t; he waited to see what she would do. He was astonished to find that his cock was beginning to stir again. He watched as she leaned over and grabbed the still vibrating toy in her hand. He had no idea what she planned but he was willing to wait and see. Slowly she brought the vibrator, dripping with her juices, to her lips and licked it. He realized that he had never seen anything that erotic in is life. Slowly she brought it to his lips and rubbed it across them, the smell of her arousal surrounding him. He found that it was getting harder to breathe and that his mouth was suddenly dry. She didn’t insist that he do anything but lay there. She slowly drew the vibrator down his chin and along his throat. She rubbed her cunt down his torso until her ass rested against his now erect cock. He groaned as she played the instrument across his nipples, arching as she had done earlier. He finally allowed his hands to begin to caress her thighs, but she paid only a little attention now. She pushed her ass further against his cock, teasing herself with it. Suddenly she flipped the switch off and threw the vibrator across the bed. She lifted her ass off of him, allowing his cock to fall forward. She stretched out and began running her wet folds along his shaft. By this point, AJ’s hands had fallen to grab and knead the sheets. Finally, ending their mutual torture, she firmly grabbed his cock and seated herself over it. Inch by torturous inch she sank until her ass met his balls. She began to rock, alternating between a side to side and a back and forth motion. AJ began to pump into her, no longer able to hold back. She then began her own thrusting. He bent his knees to bring his feet up toward him so that she could lean back and rest against his upper legs. Her movements came faster and harder and AJ thought he would surely pass out. He had lost all faculty for speech and was content to concentrate on the sensations. Finally, he felt his balls tighten and managed to gasp. "Now, Cassie, come with me…"

::  Chapter 40  ::

AJ woke promptly at 0600 as he always did. He looked down at the sleeping woman next to him and felt a wave of lust wash over him. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to think of budget meetings and Tiner’s latest self-improvement. He had to be at the office by 0800 and he wasn’t exactly sure how he was going to make it, but he knew he wouldn’t if he stayed where he was. Inching away from her, he managed to get out of bed. He stood for a minute, getting his bearings and saw an open door in the wall that he hadn’t noticed last night. Of course, last night he hadn’t noticed the stately windows hung in the same damask covering the bedposts. Hell, last night, he wouldn't have noticed the Marine Corp Band if they had marched through the apartment. He made his way over to it and reached around till he felt a light switch. Closing the door before he turned it on so he wouldn't wake her, he gazed at his image. He sighed deeply. <<<Yeah, Chegwidden, you’re still 52 and this morning you look every damn year of it.>>> He found a wash cloth under the stark white sink, as well as a thick terry towel and washed his face, his chest and then his genitals. He found some mouthwash and gargled. He finally surveyed the room and found it just as opulent as the rest of the apartment; everything that wasn’t mirrored was white, from the towels and the fixtures to the rough wavy white tile everywhere. <<<Very curious indeed, Agent Ryan.>>> So engrossed with his scrutiny he never heard the door softly open. He forced his eyes from the huge shower stall, the images conjured were not helping his progress and he looked around for a place to put his soiled washcloth and towel.

He jumped when he heard her. "Just throw them in the hamper AJ, they’ll be fine."

He turned and saw her lounging against the door. He walked up to her, keeping his mind firmly on what he needed to get done today and kissed her on the top of the head. "I got to run, I’ve got a meeting at 0800 and then I have to be back in D.C. to meet with Jacobs." He had not wanted to dredge up the pain from last evening, but marveled at her control. Only a shadow crossed her face at the memory.

"I know." She said in a calm still voice. "Get dressed and I’ll make coffee. I have an extra travel mug you can use." Before he could answer she stood on tiptoe and brushed her closed lips against his. She reached around behind the door and grabbed a pale green silk robe and covered herself. She turned and left him to his own devices. He walked into the bedroom and located all of his clothes. He pulled on his undergarments and pulled his very wrinkled pants on. His shirt was okay, and he forced himself to knot his tie before donning his uniform jacket. He tied his shoes and walked into living room.

She was standing at the window watching the traffic as he came up behind her and embraced her. She reached for her cup sitting on the windowsill and took another drink of coffee before turning to kiss him soundly. Pointing to his coat lying over the back of the couch, "I shook it out and it doesn’t look too bad. I couldn’t find your cover though."

He thought for a moment and remembered. "I left it in the back seat of the car. Christ, I hope I didn’t get towed again!" She looked at him in amusement. "It’s a long story. I’ll tell you sometime."

She laughed and went into the kitchen. When she came out she had a steaming cup of coffee in the promised travel mug. "I’m sorry I don’t have anything to give you for breakfast, but I haven’t been to the store yet."

He had donned his coat while she was in the kitchen and now took the mug from her. "Tell you what, call me at the office tonight around 1700 hours. If I can, I'll get out of there at a decent hour and go shopping and I’ll make you my specialty."

Her grin lit the whole room. "Okay. 1700 hours." She walked him to the elevator and pressed the call button. They stood together, suddenly embarrassed, not knowing what to say. Just as the doors opened and he stepped in, she pulled him back for a quick passionate kiss and then pushed him in. Just as the doors closed on them, he heard her say, "Wow."

He walked briskly down 19^th Street, praying the entire trip that the SUV was where he parked it. He didn’t even care if there were 10 tickets on it, just so long as he didn’t have to deal with that ass at the impound lot again. He saw it from a block away and sighed in relief. As he approached it he was further pleased to see no citations at all on it. <<<This is going to be a good day.>>>

He pulled quickly out into the very light early morning traffic and made his way up to and then down New Hampshire.

He reached McLean in record time and bounded up the stairs. He let himself in and went immediately to the office. He couldn’t believe it. Tiner had out done himself. The room was neat and clean again, the only evidence that anything at all had occurred was the absence of many of his treasured pictures. He saw the small yellow Post-it note on the computer screen. "Admiral, I was able to get it up and running. No need for Dave."

To the empty room he muttered, "Yes! It is going to be a good day."

He quickly showered and dressed and made his way into the kitchen to grab a quick drink of juice when he noticed the light blinking on his answering machine. He hit the button and opened the refrigerator door. At the sound of the voice he froze and closed the door, the carton of juice forgotten. He walked back over to the machine and hit the replay button to hear the message from the beginning.

The voice was barely above a whisper, but he could hear the strength inherent there. "Sir, it’s Gunny….I just saw the news and heard what Agent Ryan said. Could you call me as soon as you get this message?"

AJ stared at the phone, wondering what was going on in Galindez’s mind. He knew he had to talk to him before he saw Jacobs at 1100, but just as he was reaching to pick up the phone to dial the hospital, the next message began. "Admiral Chegwidden, this is Tina Danvers, Sergeant Galindez’s nurse. I need you to call me immediately. It is now 10:00 PM Tuesday night. I will be here until 7:30 tomorrow morning and I need you to call me."

AJ glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that it was 0720. He grabbed his cover and brief case and ran back out to the car, pulling on his overcoat as best he could. He climbed into the Expedition and backed out of his drive. As he was driving back toward the highway, he dialed information and had them connect him to the hospital.

"Danvers."

"Nurse Danvers, AJ Chegwidden."

Before he could say anything more, she tore into him. "You’ve got to do something about all these damn lawyers, Admiral!"

He stared at the speaker in confusion. "What lawyers, Nurse Danvers? Are too many of my people visiting Galindez?"

He heard the exasperated sigh. "No. Your people have been just fine. It’s just ever since that woman admitted to what she did, I’ve had every slimy shyster sneaking up here trying to get in to see Galindez, wanting to represent him when he sues the FBI."

AJ’s heart sank. "Nurse Danvers, are the Marine guards still there?"

She snapped, "Just one. You want to talk to him?"

"Yes, thank you."

He heard the phone being juggled and finally. "Corporal Reilly."

AJ didn’t recognize the voice or the name. "Corporal, this is Admiral Chegwidden."

"Yes, sir!"

"The next civilian who approaches Gunnery Sergeant Galindez’s room who is not an employee of the hospital or his parents, call security and have them arrested for trespassing, will you?"

"Sir, yes, sir. Though, Nurse Danvers has already done that; twice already sir."

AJ sighed and asked, "Then why the hell is she so upset?"

Reilly dropped his voice before responding. "Well…uhm…sir, you see, she was really upset when we saw the news report. According to Mr. Stark, the DA guy, the FBI really screwed up and nearly cost…"

AJ gruffly interrupted the man. "Corporal, my I STRONGLY suggest that you take whatever you hear on the television with a grain of salt. Particularly if the person speaking is MR. STARK."

Stung by the Admiral’s words, the corporal hastily say, "Yes, sir. Is there anything else, sir?"

Thoroughly mad AJ snapped, "Yes, I understand that Sergeant Galindez wishes to speak with me."

"I’ll check with Nurse Danvers, sir."

AJ was pulling off at the Falls Church exit when Danvers picked up the phone. Her tone was more modulated now. "Admiral, I want to apologize for snapping at you earlier. I’ve been upset with all these scuzzy little lawyers skanking around and I am still really mad with what happened.."

Before she could continue AJ firmly cut in. "Nurse Danvers, I will tell you the same thing I just told my Corporal. Don’t believe a word that you hear from Mr. Stark. Now, Nurse Danvers, my I speak to Gunnery Sergeant Galindez?" He heard the sharp intake of breath and the somewhat huffy, "Yes, sir, he is awake and he has been asking to talk to you since last night."

As AJ waited at the traffic light he calmly thought of all the things he wanted to do to Stark. He spared but a moment on Nurse Danvers rather over protective stance, but his musing were cut short when he heard a hoarse but steady,

"Admiral?"

"Yes, Gunny, how are you feeling this morning?" AJ tried to keep his voice light and the strain out of his voice.

"I hurt, Admiral. But I’ve hurt worse. Sir you've got to do something about these lawyers. They are really bugging my parents."

AJ sighed. "What do you and your parents want to do Gunny?"

There was a long pause before he heard the question. "About what, sir? About the lawyers?"

AJ past the guard shack outside of headquarters and pulled into the parking lot. "No, Gunny. Nurse Danvers advised me that you are thinking about suing the FBI?"

AJ couldn’t remember if he had ever heard his Gunnery Sergeant squeak before. "Sir!" The shock in his voice was total. AJ heard the phone hit the bed. Galindez’s voice was muffled but he could still hear the shaky "Tina!" AJ opened his door and grabbed his phone from the speaker stand and placed it on his shoulder while he grabbed his briefcase and put his cover on. Finally he heard the phone being picked up. But, Galindez was speaking to him in such an angry voice. "Tina, I want you to hear exactly what I am going to say to the Admiral, right now." A very muffled, "Yes, Victor" could be heard in the background. "Admiral, I can’t believe that Agent Ryan did what she did, sir. She already apologized to me. Agent Hobson personally went over the entire operation with both me and my folks yesterday. Neither they, nor I have any desire or intention of suing Agent Ryan or Agent Hobson or any one with the FBI." He had used whatever strength he had left and was forced to finish in a hoarse whisper. "Will you make everybody understand that?"

Grinning in relief, AJ passed Corporal Kelly nodding his acknowledgment as he made his way to the elevators. "I will do my best Gunny, if you are sure. I have a meeting with Mr. Jacobs of the FBI and we are going to make a joint statement this morning at 1130 hours. I’m not sure whether or not anyone will carry it live. I needed to make sure that I knew your position. You know the Navy couldn’t represent you in a civil suit. But if you are sure of your desire not to sue, do you mind if I make that clear today too?"

"Please, sir. Whatever it takes to get these people away from me!"

"Well, son, you get some sleep. Do you need me to talk to Nurse Danvers?"

"Uhm…no, sir. I’m sure that Nurse Danvers completely understands now."

"Very well Gunny, good bye then." AJ flipped the cover closed and breathed a deep sigh. He hadn’t known what he was going to do if someone had talked Gunny into suing. He was just glad he didn’t have to find out.

AJ walked into the bullpen to hear Tiner, who was standing talking to Harriet, call out. " Attention on deck." He nodded to his staff, when somewhere in the back of the room someone started applauding. He turned in astonishment as the entire office stopped what they were doing and joined in. He saw Mac standing next to Singer, both of them with huge grins on their faces. He didn’t see Rabb, but Mac would know where he was. He looked at his watch and saw he was 5 minutes early. He put his brief case down and looked at his staff. Bud came up behind and reached for his coat. "Thank you Lieutenant."

"I want to thank each and every one of you for a job well done these past seven days. I couldn’t have done it without you and I want you all to know that I have never served with a better crew in my life." He looked over at Harriet and said in mock gruffness. "Lieutenant, so help me if you start crying, I bust you down to Ensign again." Harriet nodded happily and turned to face Tiner again so that he couldn’t see the tear roll down her cheek. He knew it was there anyway.

He turned to his office, knowing that Mac was directly behind him. He opened the office door for her and allowed her to proceed him into the room. "Have a seat, Colonel. You want a cup of coffee? I’m going to grab one before we begin."

No, sir. I’ve had enough this morning, but thanks."

When he had his coffee and was settled in his chair, he put on his glasses and allowed her to go over the details of the office. She did it quickly, but thoroughly. When she was done, she pointed to the blue covered report on his desk. "I was able to get the Norfolk report done too, sir."

AJ sat back in his chair, his glasses perched on the end of his nose. He looked over the top at her for a moment before remembering to take them off and put them on his blotter. "Colonel, you amaze me. I thanked everyone out there for their hard work, but I know that most of what happened last week, happened because you were here to make sure it got done. I have never trusted anyone with my command as I have you these past days. No, these past months. You have been there when I needed you." He watched the shocked, but pleased expression cross her face, a huge embarrassed grin plastered there.

"Sir, thank you. It’s an honor…"

AJ sat forward in his chair. "I’m not done, Colonel."

"Yes, sir."

"As you know ever since Krennick left, I have managed the office without a Chief of Staff. I would like you to accept the position. It would mean that you wouldn’t get to travel as much. And you probably won’t be able to get into any trouble with Webb, anymore." Suddenly aware of what he had just said, he blushed a deep red. "I mean, of course, that Mr. Webb will not be able to use you on assignments anymore, of course."

Knowing that she would never see her hard-as-nails boss quite as flustered as he was right now, Mac privately savored the moment, but managed a very professional, "Of course, sir." She paused pondering his offer. It was a huge step for her career. It would keep her closer to home now and she realized that with Webb’s appointment to Assistant Director in Charge of Covert Operations, his travel would be cut somewhat too – a minor consideration, she knew, but a nice perk nonetheless. It was time to accept the credit due her and she didn’t hesitate when she said, "Sir, I would be honored to accept the position."

AJ nodded and reached for his glasses and the first pile of paperwork before him. "Excellent, Colonel. Have Tiner arrange to clean out Krennick’s old office and move your stuff in there this afternoon. I want to meet with you first thing tomorrow to go over the rest of the month and to make sure that all the cases are assigned. Dismissed, Colonel."

Mac stood at attention and snapped. "Aye, sir." She spun sharply and left the office.

That night, as he followed Cassie up the steps into her building, he reflected that everything had gone well that day. The news conference had gone beautifully and by the time he and Jacobs were through, the whole country got to see what a complete ass Stark was. Cassie had called him at 1700 hours on the dot and he had picked her up at the new task force site and found that it was less than ten minutes from the office and only 10 minutes more to his home in McLean.

They had picked up groceries to restock her larder and she watched in amusement as he picked out the ingredients for his secret pasta creation. They reached her apartment and went into the kitchen. AJ was once again impressed by the layout of this very spacious apartment. The cabinets were done in a light rich cherry wood with black accents. Just as he was about to begin a gentle probe of her past and this beautiful space, she went over to the telephone and glanced at the answering machine. He saw her face pale and walked up to her. She had her lower lip between her teeth, just staring at the blinking light. "Cassie, what’s wrong?"

She glanced over at him and sighed. "Nothing, I’m sure it’s just a siding salesman or something like that." She turned purposely away, but he grabbed her arm.

"Cassie?" She looked at him and then determinedly hit the playback button.

"Cassandra? It’s your mother. We just saw the dreadful news on the telly. I’m flying out this morning. I’ll be at your place tonight by 8ish. See you then, darling."

She groaned and laid her head on the cool black marble counter. AJ was starting to get very worried. "Honey?" Just then the downstairs bell began to buzz insistently.

She raised her head and stared into his eyes. "Kiss me now." He looked toward the elevator then pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her soundly. The buzzer never stopped.

She broke away from him and grabbed his hand. "Well then, Admiral, come and meet The Duchess."

 Home     ::    JAG Index     ::    e-mail