Need To Know

by Clairisant2000

AJ meets up with a woman he had been going to propose to after several months which leads to a big surprise. The story has many twists and turns and is the first in a trilogy that will span several years.

1. Chapter 1

TITLE: Need To Know

AUTHOR: Clairisant and Brenda

CLASSIFICATION: AJ/Other

FEEDBACK: Always welcome.

CREDITS: A special thanks to our beta reader Qupeydoll

Chapter 1

Wednesday, September l4, 2005

1200 EST

General Counsel's Office

The Pentagon

Washington, DC

AJ stepped out of his office and told Harriett that he was going to lunch.

"I know, Sir. I should only call you on your cell if the world is about to blow up," she smiled at him.

"You know me so well, Harriett."

"I should after all these years, Sir. Have a good lunch."

AJ headed to the bank of elevators at the end of the hall he stopped short when he saw a familiar woman standing and waiting for one of the doors to open. '"Thea?" he questioned.

He saw the woman's shoulders jerk and knew she had heard him and recognized his voice, however she did not turn, or acknowledge his call to her. Walking down the hall until he was behind the woman who still had not turned, he called, "Thea," again.

This time it was as if the woman flinched away from the sound of his voice. The door in front of her opened, she stepped inside the elevator, and without hesitation AJ followed her. He waited for her to turn and face the front of the elevator, but she didn't do so. They were alone in the tiny compartment and AJ asked the question that had been burning in his mind for the last four months.

"Thea, why have you been avoiding my calls and refusing to see me?" asked AJ. "If you would just answer that one question for me or better yet tell me what I did that hurt you so badly that you don't want to see me anymore."

For the first time the woman spoke and said, "You didn't hurt me, AJ, none of this was your fault."

Placing his hand on her shoulder he asked, "Then why won't you even look at me?"

"Please, AJ, I can't do this, I can't see you."

Determined to discover the reason she would no longer see him, AJ stepped around in front of her and discovered what he figured had to be the reason. Althea Lewis was pregnant, about six months along from the look of it.

Looking into her eyes AJ asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I had told you I was on birth control and it failed and we had never talked about a future or children. So I decided it was my problem and not yours."

"I wanted a future with you, Thea, in fact I was going to propose the night you didn't show up."

"You're just saying that because of the baby."

Reaching into his pocket, AJ pulled out the ring box he had been carrying everyday for the last four months. He carried it as a reminder of how fickle love was and to never trust his heart again. Opening the box he showed her the ring and asked, "Then why would I have this?"

Her hand reached out to touch the ring box as if to make sure it was real. Then with tear filled eyes she asked, "Why are you still carrying it?"

"To remind myself what a fool I was."

"Why don't you come over this evening and I'll explain."

"And you'll be home this time?" he questioned.

"Yes, AJ I'll be there," she replied.

"I'll be there at 6:00 and I'll bring dinner," AJ said.

As the elevator doors opened she said, "Nothing spicy please," and she turned and walked away.

He closed the ring box and put it in his pocket. Having lost his appetite AJ rode the elevator back up to his floor. Entering his office he surprised Harriett with her feet upon her desk, munching upon a salad and reading a magazine.

"Sir!" she exclaimed though a mouth full of lettuce. While trying to get her feet off the desk, hide the magazine, get rid of the salad, and get to her feet all at the same time.

"As you were, Lieutenant," AJ said in a dazed tone of voice as he hurried past her and went into his own office.

To be continued…..