Chapter 52

Monday, November 22, 2004

0730 EST

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

AJ was the first to the office as usual that morning, checking over messages and mail that had been left for him because it needed his personal attention. At 0900 when he knew most businesses in McLean would be open, he called Ted's Construction Company. They were the family owned outfit he used two years ago when a storm had blown a tree down on the roof of his house. AJ found out that Ted had retired and that Teddy Jr. now ran it.

Explaining what he wanted and saying that he would pay extra to have it done as quickly as possible got a positive reaction. It also didn't hurt that Ted Sr. had been in the Navy back in WWII. AJ was told that Ted Sr. would come out of retirement long enough to help with the job, because he had a ranch style home and the roof was not that high. But the job would still take a minimum of three days to finish.

They would start that afternoon, but AJ would need to move to his guest room until they finished. He cheerfully agreed and ended the call. His staff looked up in shock when he entered the conference room for the morning briefing with a smile and a spring in his step.

"You look like your trip to Texas went well, Sir," Mac said fishing for information on what had her CO so happy.

"Yes, it did, Colonel, and as an added bonus, I was able to see my sister while I was down there."

"She is your twin, right, Sir?" Bud asked.

"Yes, she is Lieutenant. Now, shall we get down to business?" he asked ending the talk about his trip most effectively.

As the staff was leaving the conference room, AJ stopped Bud and Harriett to ask them if they would go to lunch with him. This was such an unusual occurrence that at first the two were stunned but then they were curious as to why they were getting such an invitation. Harriet gladly accepted for both of them and they both spent the remaining hours until lunch speculating on why the Admiral had asked them to go with him.

"Harriett, do you think they are finally going to move you to the Pentagon and away from JAG?" Bud asked concerned. "That would mean we'd have so little time to spend together."

"Buddy, I have no idea, suppose we just wait and see what going on and not speculate," she replied patting him on the back.

"But...what if..."

"Bud, did you get that information that I requested?" Harm said coming up on the two of them at Harriett's desk.

"Yes, Commander you should find it on your desk," replied Bud, still looking at his wife wondering what they'd done to bring the Admiral's notice down on them. "If you can't find it let me know, Sir."

"Thanks, Bud. What do you guys think is up with the Admiral? I am sure that I heard him WHISTLING when he was walking down the hall earlier!" Harm asked shaking his head, still not sure he had heard right.

"That's what we were just talking about. He invited both Harriett and myself to lunch," Bud told him looking up at the Commander who looked as much in shock as they were. "We were trying to figure out why he would do that."

"Maybe he wants to talk to you about something for Little AJ for Christmas, it is coming up you know!" Mac said as she came through the bullpen and heard their comments.

"His presents for Little AJ are always as much of a surprise to us as they are to him," answered Harriett turning to look at Mac. "Can you think of anything new that's happened recently?"

"He did go on that trip to Texas I booked for him, but other than that I can't think of anything," Bud supplied the only information he could think of that had happened recently. "Anyone else know anything?"

"Nope," Mac and Harm said in unison, and then turned and grinned at each other. Everyone decided they had better get back to work. Time seemed to slow to a crawl for Bud and Harriett who were still trying to think of a reason for this unusual request.

To be continued…