Chapter 10

Tuesday, November 14, 2000

0900 EST

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, VA

When they reached JAG HQ that morning, Tiner approached Harriett as soon as he saw her. "Ma'am, I put a little surprise under your desk for you this morning."

"A surprise?" Sam questioned.

"Yes, Ma'am, it is a little footstool…rats, now it is not a surprise! Me and my big mouth!"

"He would be great under interrogation!" Al muttered in Sam's ear, even though no one else in the bullpen could hear the hologram. But it cause Sam to jump because he hadn't seen Al appear behind him.

"Ma'am, are you all right? Did the baby kick?" Tiner asked in a loud, concerned voice.

All eyes turned to the pair, everyone cared for Harriett and it sounded like something might be wrong. The Admiral who was passing through on his way from the break room also heard.

"Harriett, is something wrong? You are not in labor are you!?" AJ wanted to be sure she was going to have this baby somewhere OTHER than his office! "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Bud entered from the storeroom just then and assumed that his wife was in labor. "Honey! Let me bring the car around and we can go now!"

"Hold it!" Sam shouted. "Everyone freeze!" Everyone did, and turned to look at Harriett as if she was someone else! They had never heard her talk in that tone of voice before! "I am NOT in labor and I do not need to go to the hospital! Everyone go back to your duties."

The Admiral raised one eyebrow and considered the fact that a Lieutenant JG had just given him an order. "Lieutenant Sims, did you just issue an order to everyone in the bullpen?"

"Yes, Sir, I did. Everyone is running around like a chickens with their heads cut off and there is no reason for it," Sam replied without thinking about whom he was addressing.

Al was standing right next to Admiral Chegwidden and Sam glared at him, because he was sure that somehow this was all Al's fault.

"Lieutenant, did you just refer to me as a chicken?" AJ inquired.

"Calling a two-star a chicken, Sam?" Al asked incredulously.

"Shut up, Al!" Sam shouted.

"Harriett!" Mac exclaimed.

"Ma'am!" Tiner gasped.

"Ma'am!" Gunny warned.

"Sweetie?" Bud questioned.

"What did you call me, Lieutenant?" Admiral AJ Chegwidden demanded.

To be continued…..