Disclaimer: JAG, and the characters of Admiral Chegwidden, Harmon Rabb Jr., Sarah Mackenzie, Bud Roberts, Harriet Sims, Jason Tiner, Victor Galindez and Loren Singer belong to Bellasarius Productions, CBS-TV, Paramount Television and related entities. No copyright infringement was intended and no profit is being made from this story. It is solely for entertainment purposes. 

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1300 EDT
Roberts' Apartment...

"I am not going to a picnic/barbecue or whatever this is where I won't know anyone!" Austin Bradford grumbled looking at the woman she considered a friend as if she'd sprouted another head.

"Please Aus...please...please..." Harriet pleaded. Tiner was supposed to have convinced Gunny to go and she was sure Austin and Gunny were perfect for each other. Though that was going to be hard to prove to the two of them if they never met. "It'll be fun...Commander Rabb will be there."

"Oh goody...the guy who saw me slip on the ice and fall on my fanny. How could I resist going now??" Austin asked rolling her eyes. "How about if I just go back to my own apartment and pretend this conversation never took place?"

"You might as well agree to come Austin, Harriet's determined to get you there," Bud warned poking his head into his son's room.

"Harriet...please tell me you aren't trying to set me up with someone you work with again!"

Harriet shrugged shooting Bud a deadly look as she shooed him from the room. "I just think you should meet Gunnery Sergeant Galindez...he's such a nice man. But I am not trying to set you up with him."

"That's the marine, right?" Austin pushed to her feet brushing a strand of dark brown hair from her eyes. "No thanks...I don't want or need a jarhead in my life! Especially not that homophobic jarhead!"

"You're being unfair...just because that newspaper article said those things you can't believe them. Please Austin...I...uh...all ready told the Admiral you were coming."

"Harriet!"

"Please Aus, it will be fun. Lots of single guys and they're trained to be polite. Much better than a bar.Plus what better way to get acquainted with some of the people you'll be working with as the EFMP Coordinator."

"You are not going to stop until I get in your minivan with you are you?" Austin asked suspiciously as she turned in the doorway. She considered it a low blow that Harriet had used her new position to entice her. There were still times when she wondered what the hiring committee had been thinking when they offered her the job. There had to be qualified people all ready in the ranks.

"Nope."

"Oh all right...but for the record: AJ is my date at this thing!" Austin said lifting the little boy in her arms cooing at him. "You'll keep the nasty marine away, right?"

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1445 EDT
Admiral Chegwidden's Home...

"Admiral you remember my friend Austin Bradford, the new EFMP Coordinator ?"

"Ah yes...Miss Bradford, a pleasure to see you again."

"Same to you Admiral."

"Young lady...I am not Admiral to you. Call me AJ...you aren't under my command you can be informal."

"All right....umm...AJ," Austin smiled at the older man before she followed Harriet around to the backyard.

Harriet caught Tiner's eye, smiling at the Petty Officer when she saw Gunny looking over the salads spread out on a picnic table. "Hi Tiner! Gunny!"

"Hi Ma'am!" Tiner called back as the two women approached. He was sorry he'd agreed to bring Gunny when he saw the woman following behind her. She was tall, probably only a few inches shorter than him, slender with short dark brown hair and fair skin. He wondered what color her eyes were but the sunglasses she was wearing prevented him from finding out at the moment. Hopefully later.

"Hi, I'm Austin Bradford," Austin said offering her hand to the smiling man Harriet had called Tiner.

"Petty Officer Jason Tiner Ma'am. Pleased to meet you."

Austin looked at the man beside Tiner raising an eyebrow in interest.

"Oh...where are my manners: Austin, this is Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez, Gunny this is Austin Bradford. She's just been hired as the EFMP coordinator for the DC area."

"Pleased to meet you Ma'am," Victor answered politely taking her hand.

"Likewise," Austin answered in a tone barely bordering on polite. So this was the guy she'd read about in the paper...the one who'd gotten into some gay-bashing outside a bar. "Where's Bud? I can take AJ for him so he can visit with his friends."

Harriet sighed and rolled her eyes as her friend strolled off stopping to greet Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie. "She's a little shy."

"No ma'am...I don't think she likes me," Victor answered wishing again he'd ignored Tiner and just spent the day at home.

"Oh Gunny don't be ridiculous...she doesn't even know you," Harriet said dismissively.

"Doesn't appear that she wants to know me Ma'am."

"Oh yes she does! You come with me Victor Galindez," Harriet said determinedly hooking her arm through Gunny's as she dragged him in Austin's wake And even if she thinks she doesn't I'm going to prove she does!

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1530 EDT



"FOOD'S ON PEOPLE!!!"

"C'mon Harm...let's make sure the Admiral doesn't give away your Veggie burger as a frisbee."

Austin snorted in spite of herself flushing pink when then handsome Commander turned to look at her. "You eat Veggie burgers?"

"Only because we won't let him make meatless meatloaf!" Mac answered smiling at Harriet's friend. She'd been part of the interview committee and had been impressed with her resume as well as her passion when she discussed her job.


"Meatless meatloaf...wow dinner with you must be an adventure."

"Well Miss Bradford...wouldn't you like to know?" Harm teased. He'd met her several times as well and was pleased that she was one woman who didn't seem the least interested in him. She was like Mac in a lot of ways, he thought putting a hand on the small of his partner's back.

Someone bumped into Austin from behind and she turned to see Victor Galindez turing red to the tips of his ears.

"I'm sorry Ma'am...I tripped...I'm truly sorry."

A sharp reply hovered on Austin's tongue, but she bit it back seeing the sad look in his eyes. And his eyes themselves...so dark...long lashes. Why does God always waste the best eyelashes on men?

"Did I hurt you?" Victor asked with real concern reaching out a hand to steady her.

"N-no...you're Gunny, aren't you?"

"Call me Victor...and you're Lieutenant Sims friend, Austin?"

"That's me...my mother had this fascination with Texas...I was almost named Dallas...but my Dad said no way. Most of my friends call me Aus...or if they are really out to annoy me Aussie."

"I think Austin's nice...it's unique."

"Well Victor...want to share a burger with me? Or are you a non meat eater?"

"Never met a burger I didn't like...lead the way Austin."

"Ooh...see Bud...I told you!" Harriet squealed excitedly as she watched Gunny and Austin talking in the food line.

"She's talking to him in line...they aren't choosing china patterns quite yet dear."

"Bud Roberts...you don't have one ounce of romance in your soul! Not one!" Harriet grumbled as she swatted him. Then she turned her attention back to watching Victor and Austin talking together. This was perfect.

They gathered their food talking the entire time as they cruised the lawn looking for a good place to sit where they could have a little privacy. Conversation stayed on neutral, safe topics, though as the minutes stretched on Austin had an almost uncontrollable urge to ask about what had happened the night he'd attacked two men outside a gay bar. She knew what she'd read in the paper, but the desire to dig deeper and know more was overwhelming. Her mother had always told her she'd have made a wonderful reporter, never understanding that she could bring that same curiosity and determination to bear in her work with children and families.

"You're going to think I'm horribly rude, but I have to ask this question," Austin finally said studying Victor closely as she spoke.

"Go ahead."

"Whatever possessed you to get into a fight outside that gay bar?"

Victor froze his burger halfway to his mouth unsure if he'd heard Austin correctly. "Wh-what?"

"Why did you fight...didn't you punch one of your co-workers?"

"Go right for the jugular, huh?" he tried to joke about it, but it hurt. He'd seen the newspaper write-up of the incident and offered to resign from JAG over it, but the Admiral had shredded his resignation while he watched and told him in no uncertain terms to stop being foolish.

"Sorry...I've always been very forward," Austin shrugged not feeling apologetic at all. Victor Galindez might have been cute, but if he was prone to letting his fists fly she wasn't interested. She'd seen the effects of talking with fists one too many times. It wasn't something she wanted for herself.

"I was out with a buddy...he started it...he was getting beaten and I decided I couldn't let that happen. Yeah...I threw some punches and hit someone I work with, but I'm not the homophobic monster I was painted as in that newspaper article," Victor's voice was tight as he climbed to his feet. He didn't feel like he needed to defend himself to someone he'd just met.

"I never said you were. I hope I haven't offended you too badly," Austin sighed ruefully getting to her feet to put her hand on his arm.

"Not at all Ma'am...I really shouldn't take up anymore of your time though...I'm sure you want to mingle," Victor answered feeling uncomfortable with the physical contact.

"I've offended you...I apologize for that," Austin smiled softly and walked away back to Harriet, Bud and Little AJ.

"So??" Harriet demanded.

Austin sighed and sank to the ground. "It was a dismal failure...I asked a question: he didn't like it. May I go home now?"

"Oh Aus...you can't want to leave all ready...it's early yet," Harriet practically wailed as her mind raced to think of what she could do to fix this.

"Harriet...I am not a military person despite my new job and in case you hadn't noticed the rest of you are. I stick out like a sore thumb."

"Oh Austin...okay...okay...just give it an hour more please? I'm sure Gunny's not really upset."

Austin snorted and shook her head deciding to give her attention to AJ. At least the baby didn't seem offended by her.

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Across the yard...

"Commander sir?"

"Gunny, pull up a patch of grass and relax...and call me Harm."

"Okay...Harm. Can I ask you for some advice?"

"Sure...I can offer advice with the best of them," Harm joked, sobering when he saw the serious look on Gunny's face. "Something's really bothering you, huh Gunny?"

"Yeah...that woman who came with Harriet and Bud...Austin...Sir, I like her...she's smart, funny...but she sure doesn't beat around the bush."

Ah...let me guess...she saw that newspaper article too?"

Victor nodded. "It took me by surprise so I got up and walked off...I honestly didn't know what else to do."

"Getting some space isn't a bad thing...sometimes it helps. I can't claim to know Austin that well, but I've seen her in action. Mac and I called her as an expert witness in a child abuse case awhile back. She's an intense person, but she cares deeply about others, especially kids. On the stand she was unflappable, answered every question that was thrown at her without batting an eyelash...but you could tell when she sat back down she was almost in tears."

"I don't know sir...she seems awfully tough...and she can't be very old."

"32 actually," Harm answered cocking an eyebrow at Gunny's shocked look. "What?? Harriet had a birthday party for her and asked me what to get a woman who was turning 32."

"32..." Victor sighed and wandered away. She was ten years younger than him, not that age was that important, but it was just another factor to think about.

He watched her from a secluded vantage point seeing her laughing and talking with Tiner, then speaking to the Admiral when he circulated around, playing the good host. She even said something that made the older man laugh out loud and shake his head.

"Gunny, are you going to stand here and watch her for the rest of the night?" Harriet asked curiously.

"Probably Ma'am...she's a force to be reckoned with."

"Oh Gunny, Victor...give Aus a chance...she didn't mean to hurt your feelings in any way...she's just very honest and up-front. She doesn't play games at all," Harriet soothed knowing she had to get the two of them back together. She knew they were the perfect couple.

"I appreciate that, but I brushed her off...I don't think she liked that much."

"Ask her...she knows her question took you by surprise, I know she feels badly about that...let her prove it to you."

"Maybe later Ma'am...thank you though."

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1930 EDT...

Harriet was feeling deeply depressed over her failed attempt at matchmaking, not even brightening up at the sight of Harm helping Mac into his SUV. Austin seemed completely unconcerned with the fact that she was walking away from her prince charming. How could she be so matter-of-fact about it? Was she crazy or something?

"Miss Bradford, Ma'am?"

Victor's voice startled her since Harriet had been so busy feeling depressed and looking at the ground beneath her feet she hadn't noticed Gunny standing by the minivan.

"Hi Victor," Austin said with a pleasant smile. She wasn't going to be purposely rude, but she couldn't imagine what she and the Gunnery Sergeant had left to say to each other.

"Ma'am, I was wondering...would you like to maybe go out for a drink with me? I thought we could talk a little more...I was rude earlier and I apologize."

Despite herself, Austin felt her heart skip a beat at the shy smile on Victor's face. "I would love to...that sounds like a good idea. I was pretty rude too."

"I'll make sure she gets home safely Sir, Ma'am," Victor promised Bud and Harriet prompting Bud to grin as he put an arm around Harriet's shoulder.

"Look dear...our little Austin's all grown up now."