SUMMARY: Sequel to "The SecDef Cheats." Lt. Col Cassidy moves in to NCIS and what this will mean for Abby in the long run. McAbby, Drama/Romance/Angst
RATING: T - Adult subject matter, rare mild language, killer smooching.
A/N: Okay, now that I have confused everyone, and gotten everything set up... Next chapter will start the real fun :D
REVIEWS: I am always trying to improve my writing, so all constructive criticism is welcome. I would also like to thank you in advance for any reviews you might wish to leave. They really are a great boon to a writer's ego and gives you a huge incentive to live up to your expectations.
Chapter 10
Opening the doors and immerging into a sea of Navy khaki and colorful ribbons, Lt. Col. Gwen Cassidy walked into the Navy Yard Officer's Club to a somewhat disconcerting silence. She had gotten used to many things during her career as a military officer, but it never ceased to amaze her that her appearance at any "O Club" in the world would put the entire place into a stupor. Without needing to scan the room, Gwen only followed the sound of the muffled and resonating laughter coming from a corner of the club and the gray haired man in the camp shirt and sport slacks. When she finally made her way across the room, the faint whispers and murmurs began to drift passed her ears, but she was also used to those as well, and she had important business with the casual man in the corner.
The man stood up when she reached the table and gestured for her to take a seat before speaking through the last remnants of his mirth, "I see you still know how to make an entrance, Gwenny."
"I once tried to believe it was the rank and the ribbons, but this wise old friend of mine told me it had more to do with the chest they were pinned to, Commandant." She smiled and placed her cover on the table beside them as the waitress came to the table to get their drink order. Gwen looked up at her and said, "Ah, the Commandant will take another whickey sour, I'll take a Sam Adams and our missing party will have a Guinness, please." The waitress nodded and went about her business.
"You mean the ole boy is actually gonna get his head out of-… Well, wherever it is he has it…" He paused to give his off-color remark the weight it deserved, including her admonishing smirk. "To join us for drinks tonight?"
"As a matter of fact, yes." She sat back in her chair a bit and then continued, "But I think it has more to do with getting a look at that new sloop of yours, than the company." The man laughed at her admission and they were silent for another moment while the waitress placed their drinks onto the table.
"Well, hard to blame a man that's been a sailor his whole life." The Commandant raised his glass and she followed suit, "To old salts and leathernecks: may they always ride the waves together."
Before she could say anything, they both heard the voice of another join in, "I'll drink to that." The Naval officer slapped the back of the Commandant and leaned over to place a kiss on Gwen's cheek, before grabbing his drink to complete the toast.
"Didn't your Daddy teach you not to keep a lady waiting, boy?" The Commandant gave him a sly wink as he took his seat beside Gwen.
"You be sure to ask the Gunny when he gets here this week, Cappy." The two men exchanged a hearty laugh and Gwen just shook her head.
"Yes, well, I'm not sure we'll be getting around to that topic on this trip, Johnny."
"Most likely, just cigars, sailing, the blue marlin runs and old war stories, I'm sure." Gwen enjoyed kidding with the old Marine, and she was genuinely looking forward to seeing most of her favorite old men together in one room later in the week when their fathers came to visit.
"Semper Fi!" The Commandant raised his drink once again and Gwen gladly joined him.
"Semper Fi!" All her husband could do was shake his head and laugh at the two Marines.
However, he did join them in the drink before he turned the tide of the conversation, "So, the Gunny tells me you've gotten a new sloop?"
The Commandant smirked at Gwen and they both smiled when he said, "Got that one on the head, Gwenny."
When her husband gave them a confused look she explained, "Sorry, hun… I was just telling the Commandant that you were probably more interested in the boat than the company tonight."
He lowered his head at her comment and then said, "Well, that's what I get bein' married to a profiler." He smiled, took her hand and kissed it before saying, "No secrets." They both smiled at his last comment, and the Commandant shied away from the exchange. "Almost twenty years with the woman, and she still makes me feel like that goofy kid watchin' her on the beach."
The Commandant raised his glass once more and said, "Then we should drink to you being a lucky S.O.B. for being at the right place, at the right time." They clinked their glasses together and the Commandant continued, "Because you two give an old man hope that this crazy world still has some hope."
Gwen reached across the table and put her hand on top of his when she said, "It's old men like you, that gave us the opportunities we've had, Sir."
He acknowledged her remark with a nod of his head, but he quickly changed the topic, "So, how are things going over at NCIS?"
Sensing that the conversation may be taking on a privileged nature, Gwen's husband stood up and cleared the empty glasses. "And with that, I'll go grab us another round up at the bar."
"Thanks, J.T." she called to him as he departed. "Guess he figured we were getting ready to dish." She winked at the old soldier and her smiled.
"Something like that…" She could sense that their conversation had turned more serious. "I hear things got a little hot between you and Director Sheppard today."
She shook her head and smirked, "Boy, bad news sure travels fast." Looking up into the Commandant's eyes, she continued, "Let me guess? Ducky called?" When the Commandant nodded she had her answer. "I should have guessed."
"Well, we both knew the transition would be hardest on her going into this thing. Just thought we wouldn't see it until we started those policy changes to the system." The older man shook his head at the thought.
"Yeah… So, when is the D.O.J. getting the report?" Gwen was not one to beat around the bush, even with her superiors.
"Secretary already has it… SecDef had it first, obviously, but he wanted to get it out pretty fast. Intelligence got it about the same time as the SecDef." He shook his head at the thought of the report they were discussing and added, "Whole thing has everyone pretty shook up, kid. You even got the big man off the ranch to take notice with that one."
"Well, the stats don't lie… And we're losing more good people over this, and countless tax dollars in re-training that could be easily avoided if we only followed our own policies." She was beginning to get her ire up, just thinking about the report she had prepared for the intelligence and law enforcement divisions. "Just bugs the hell out me that the military is held to a higher standard than the people who are supposed to be leading them."
"Well, Gwenny, that's because we can force a soldier into counseling, but it's not the same thing with civilians."
Her husband had chosen that moment to return to the table with their drinks and shook his head in disgust, "You didn't get her started on that report again, did you, Cappy?"
The Commandant laughed at the younger man's admonition. "Sorry about that, Johnny Boy."
As he sat back down in his seat he said, "Well, you can make it up to me by finishin' that drink so you can show me that sloop tonight." He waggled his eyebrows at the man and garnered laughs from both the Commandant and his wife.