Chapter 38

A startled look crossed his face before AJ replied, "Well, Shawn, that's something we're just going to have to wait and see on. I like your mom a lot and want to spend time with the both of you, if that's okay." When both Luna and Shawn nodded, he continued, "And then we can see what the future will bring, okay?" Again he got two nods and with smiles at Lieutenant Aguilar the three of them left the office hand in hand.

After making sure Shawn was safely tucked into the back seat of the Escalade, they made the trip to Luna's apartment in good time. Shawn couldn't stop asking questions once he'd been told that it was okay. He wanted to know everything from the color of his new room to how many kids his age lived close so he could make friends. He wanted to know if he had to go to school here too, and most importantly, did Luna have a dog? They were told, "Dad said I was too little to take care of one, but I would have! Really I would have!"

"I'm afraid the building where I live doesn't allow pets, Shawn," Luna told him regretfully.

AJ saw the sad face of the child in his review mirror and said, "I have a dog, Shawn, and you can play with her anytime you and your mom come to my house to visit."

"Couldn't we just come and live with you and your dog?"

"Shawn!" his mother protested at his boldness. "I'm sorry, AJ, I don't know what to say…"

Reaching out to pat her hand, he replied, "There's no need to apologize." Then to the child he said, "Shawn, while that might happen someday, it takes adults time to decide those kinds of things, especially when they have a child to think about."

"Why?" the child wanted to know.

"Because they want to make sure everything is just right before they do anything that affects the child's future. That way the child will always feel safe and secure."

"All grownups aren't like that, Admiral AJ," Shawn informed him.

"Well, that's the way your mother and I are, Shawn. We want you to feel safe and be happy."

"Will, Mommy lock me in the closet when I'm bad?"

Gasping, the tears flowed down Luna's cheeks, as she thought of what her child had been put through, while AJ answered, "No, son, you're mommy would never do that. She loves you and you don't do those kinds of things to people you love."

"For real?"

With a tender smile AJ assured him, "Yes, for real, Shawn."

Lunch was a roaring success, in Shawn's book anyway. When asked what he wanted to eat he had hesitated to answer, until he was told that he could really have anything that he wanted. The golden arches called to him, he was never allowed to eat there unless he had been on a school outing and he loved it. So with resignation AJ pulled into the gaily-painted fast food restaurant and the three went inside. Shawn was in heaven when he found out it was one that had a playground inside. He couldn't eat fast enough to get done and go play.

AJ went back to work after lunch much to Luna and Shawn's disappointment, but he felt that the two of them needed time alone to bond. He promised that after this week they would have a lot of time to spend together because he would no longer be working.

Even though he had taken the morning off to go with Luna to meet Shawn, AJ had enough of the loose ends tied up to know by that evening that Wednesday would be his last day at JAG.

As he entered the building that morning, he thought back on his first day there. So many things had happened in the nine years he'd held the office that he knew he would never forget.

Mac had arrived earlier than usual on Wednesday, she wanted to be sure to beat AJ into the office. She greeted him with a fresh pot of the strong coffee they preferred, and his favorite Danish. As they shared this impromptu breakfast they reminisced on other mornings they'd done the same and other unforgettable moments.

AJ told her he wanted to spend most of the morning with her to make sure she was completely up to speed on anything that he had to leave undone. She told him that would be fine with her and as they headed to their own offices added, "This place really won't be the same without you, Sir."

"I'm sure you'll adjust, Mac, and I know you'll like the new JAG," he grinned.

"So you do know who it is!" she exclaimed.

To be continued…