Chapter 55

While AJ was on the phone Jen, Harm, and Bud stood in her office and Harm tried to find out what was going on. "I can't say, Sir!" Jen stated firmly and then turned to Bud and told him, "You should book him on the first flight you can to Italy, Sir."

"I'll get right on it!" Bud said without question after a brief look at her face. As Bud hurried away, Harm once again tried to find out what she knew.

"Commander, I am not going to say! Please stop asking!"

"Fine!" he huffed and headed for his own office.

In AJ's office the drama continued to play out. AJ listened to his ex go on with her tirade about his lack of concern for his family as he tried to come to grips with the fact that his daughter was dead. He couldn't even begin to grasp the fact that she had been pregnant, and had a child before she died.

It was her shrill demand of, "So are you coming to claim the baby? He doesn't even have a name yet because she said you should name him! I don't know how she could give her baby to you and not to me, but she wouldn't listen to me!"

"You were arguing with her even as she was dying?" AJ asked stunned at her lack of sensitivity.

"She wouldn't listen to reason AJ! How will you be able to take care of this baby?" she demanded.

"Marcella if it was Francesca's last wish that I raise her son then that is what I will do. I'll let you know when I'll be arriving as soon as I can get a flight," he paused and then with a voice that was not his normal take charge, assured voice; a voice that pleaded for reassurance about his daughter's passing; a voice that even reached through to Marcella in her near hysteria, he asked, "Did she suffer?"

There was a silence on the other end, as if she were trying to decide if she wanted to answer or not, then she finally said, in a voice that was nearly kind, "No Alberto, she didn't. I'll see you soon," and hung up.

AJ clicked on the intercom and said, "Coates, send Lieutenant Roberts in please."

"I already have him working on a flight to Italy for you Sir, if that was what you wanted…"

"It was, thank you Petty Officer," he said with a weary sigh.

A short time later she announced that Bud was there to see him. He came in and stood at attention, after being told he could stand 'at ease' AJ asked him, "What did you find, Bud?"

"If you can leave in the next few minutes Sir, I found a flight that leaves in an hour."

"Thank you, I can make that. I just got word that my daughter died while I was in Iraq and it seems I will be bringing her newborn son back with me."

"If there is anything Harriett and I can do Sir, we would be glad to help in any way."

"Actually there is something that you could do for me," he said as he took out his keys and removed the one for his house from the ring, "Would you set up my guest room as a nursery? Spend whatever you need to," he added as he handed Bud one of his credit cards too. "I'll call when I know I'm on my way home, until then Commander Rabb is in charge."

"Yes, Sir, and please accept my deepest condolences. Harriett and I will have everything ready for your return."

"Thank you again Bud, I knew I could count on you," AJ said as he reached for the phone. "I need to make one more call and then can leave. Dismissed."

"Aye, aye, Sir," Bud said as he left the office.

AJ placed his call and then left the office. There was an air of solemnity to the bullpen as he walked through after Jen's call of "Attention on deck!" that hadn't been felt there since the day that AJ had made the announcement of Baby Sarah's death.

To Be Continued….