Chapter 6

The phone on his desk was ringing while he was still crossing the room. He lifted the phone and listened to her saying things like, 'It was a mistake!' and 'You can't possibly know how sorry I am!' for about a minute before interrupting her. "Meredith," he spoke softly, clearly but with emphasis. AJ paused for her to stop talking before continuing. He wanted to be sure he had her full attention. "Meredith," he said again as kindly as he could in the circumstances, "The reason I took your call was to tell you that this has to stop. I do not want you calling my cell, the house, or here at the office, and most assuredly you are not to involve other people as go-betweens."

When he paused for breath before saying a final good-bye Meredith jumped in with, "But, AJ if you would just hear me out! I am sure I could explain…"

It was there he cut her off, "Meredith, there is no possible explanation for what I saw that would change things. Please stop calling." He hung up the phone quite calmly surprising himself that he truly was not more upset about the situation. It had to have something to do with the things Akaliiani had said to him as they talked the night away. He looked at the clock and actually smiled, it was less than two hours before he would see her again. Until then he needed to start calling about canceling all the wedding plans that were already set in motion.

An hour later PO Coates knocked on the door and after receiving permission to enter, popped her head in, "Sir, the florist has called three times about the arrangements for the reception, but your line has been constantly busy."

"I have his number, I will call him."

"If you told me what you wanted Sir, I could handle it for you," she offered.

"I will take care of it, Coates, thank you. Dismissed."

With a sigh she retreated to her own office where most of the staff was gathered around her desk waiting for any information she had on what was going on. Jen threw her hands up in frustration, "I don't know any more than you guys do! All I can do is to keep trying to find out more!"

"You'll let us know as soon as you find out anything right Jen?" Commander Harmon Rabb demanded eagerly.

"As soon as I know, you guys will know. Now get lost before he comes out and wants to know why you are all out here!" she told them not even realizing she had given higher ranking officers an order. However, the group did quickly scatter leaving Jen alone to wonder what was really going on between her boss and his fiancée.

One of the complaints that Meredith had about AJ was that he was a creature of habit. His fitness routine was set in stone, he went in early to work every day and he always had lunch on the dot of noon. It didn't matter if he went out or ate at the cafeteria, he never broke the habit unless some emergency came up at work. He was such a stick in the mud that way! She had tried to spice up his life with adventure and spontaneity, but it just hadn't worked.

But, because she knew of this set in stone habit of his, Meredith knew that if she showed up just before twelve, she might be able to persuade him to have lunch with her so she could plead her case. Oh, she knew AJ had been very adamant about her not calling, but she wasn't! She was going to show up in person! It was much harder to dismiss a person face to face than it was on the telephone.

Liiani awoke from her shorter than average sleep time nonetheless refreshed and eagerly looking forward to her lunch with AJ. She got up and braided her hair in her favorite six strand style. It did make her hair look shorter than it was, but only by a few inches. Putting on her favorite sapphire blue dress she was ready to go. Jewel tones looked best on her with the deep black of her hair, they just seemed to pop!

Meredith strode through the bullpen not stopping until she reached PO Coates' desk. She was all ready with her argument as to why Jennifer should let her in to see AJ when the person in question simply held up her hand, got up from behind her desk, walked over to his door and said, "Sometimes I have to do things for his own good!"

To be continued…..