Part 5...

2350 EDT
Bethesda Naval Hospital...



Her car glided to a perfectly controlled stop in a parking space and Austin looked over to Harriet's minivan knowing her friend had been reluctant to let her drive, but she had refused to ride in with Harriet and Bud. She was planning on staying with Victor unless she was working and she'd need her own car to be able to get back and forth.

The call from Clayton Webb had been a shock, and Austin had felt sick to her stomach when Webb had put Victor on the phone and she'd heard his raspy voice telling her he was okay. She'd found out where Victor was being taken then called Harriet and Bud. Somehow she had just wanted some friends with her to face this.

A soft knock on her window made her jump and Austin looked up to see Bud holding little AJ in his arms. "You guys didn't both need to come," she whispered sliding out of the car.

"Sure we did. Gunny's our friend and so are you. We want to support both of you," Harriet answered hugging Austin.

"Let's go in. I'm sure the Admiral is here all ready. Probably Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie too."

Austin groaned. "I don't know why they all needed to be called. Goodness, they have lives too!"

"We take care of our own young lady. I would have thought you'd have known that by now," the Admiral scolded as he walked up to the little group.

"I'm sorry Admiral Chegwidden."

"Stop right there...you can call me AJ. There's no reason to be standing on formality right now."

"O-Okay AJ...you can call me Austin."

"Fine then Austin...let's go in and see how Gunny is doing."

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Waiting Room



"Webb what the hell was Gunny doing going to meet you?" Harmon Rabb Jr. asked as he paced the small confines of the waiting room.

"Working with me," Webb answered looking pleadingly to Mac for understanding only to find her staring out the window.

"You'd better have a better reason than that...the Admiral's on his way with Austin, Harriet and Bud."

"Well hell, if he's going to break my nose again he couldn't choose to do it in a better place."

"I'd worry more about Austin if I were you Clay," Harm shot back sliding into a chair next to where Mac was standing, reaching for her hand.

Several minutes later the elevator doors dinged open and AJ led the group from the elevator into the waiting room.

"Webb...come take a walk with me," AJ ordered sharply, eyeing the CIA agent.

"No way AJ...if you're going to break any of my body parts I want to stay right here."

"Webb...either get your scrawny six out of that chair or I'm going to haul you out by the ears," the thunder in the Admiral's words was not at all lessened by his soft tone.

"Has there been any news?" Austin asked as she took a seat reaching up to take a sleeping AJ from his father.

"None yet," Mac said softly releasing her hold on Harm's hand to take a seat beside Austin. "Gunny's tough though. He'll be fine."

"Oh, I know that," Austin sighed. "I just wanted to see him. I'm sure he's being a less than model patient."

Harriet took a seat on the other side of Austin patting her back reassuringly. Not that she felt Austin needed that kind of support, but Harriet needed to be doing something that would make herself feel better.

"Do they know what happened Sir? Ma'am?" Bud asked curiously.

"Webb got a call right before you got here. One of the guys rolled over and spilled his guts. Seemed he and his buddy have been pulling a scam on the Beltway for some time now-" Harm explained before Bud cut him off.

"The one where someone is pulled over with the hood up and they wait for someone to stop and help then mug the person?" Bud questioned.

Mac nodded picking up the story. "This time things changed a little bit.One of the guys recognized Gunny from his appearance in court on the hate crime charges and decided he needed to learn a lesson..." Mac trailed off, not sure she wanted to relate the rest of what Webb had told she and Harm with Austin right there.

"Go on...I know there's more that you don't want to say. I'm not going to fall apart, I promise," Austin urged looking at the floor beneath her feet.

Mac took a deep breath and squeezed Austin's shoulder tightly. "Okay...the guy apparently told the police he and his partner were going to beat the hell out of Gunny and then rape him before they took his wallet and left him...they'd only gotten as far as the beating when Clay found them."

"Oh," Austin whispered feeling her stomach clench as Mac's words sank in.

"Umm...Harriet...Please take little AJ...I need...I need a few minutes."

Harriet took her son, cradling him gently in her arms looking up at Bud pleadingly as Austin got to her feet.

Bud followed Austin into the corridor with Harm on his heels. "Austin?"

"Look, I appreciate that you both want to help me, but right now I need some time to myself. I'm not trying to be rude...but I just need some time," Austin pleaded turning to face the two Officers.

"I understand," Bud replied stepping forward to hug her.

Austin stiffened in his embrace. She didn't want sympathy right now...she wanted to be furious. She wanted a few minutes alone with the men who had wanted to hurt Victor in that way.

"We'll be right here if you need us," Harm offered softly before he patted Bud's shoulder signalling the younger man to come with him back to the waiting room.

Austin spent the next half hour alone in one of the handicapped restrooms alternating pacing with crying as she let her emotions pour out. When she finally emerged, looking as calm and in control as ever she found a man wearing a white lab coat standing in the waiting room.

"Austin, Gunny's asking for you," Harriet said as the doctor turned to look at the newest entrant.

"Miss Bradford, I was just explaining the Gunnery Sergeant's injuries. I'm his attending physician Commander Arthur Fowler."

"Pleased to meet you Commander Fowler. Why don't you tell us about his injuries and then I'll go see him."

"Well, as I was saying... though Gunnery Sergeant Galindez was pretty badly beaten his injuries are by and large, not as serious as we had feared. His most serious injuries are two cracked ribs and a broken nose. He has some deep bruising over his right kidney as well as on his abdomen. One of the gashes on his face required seven stitches to close it. He'll be sore and very uncomfortable for awhile, but he'll survive. I'd like to keep him here tonight for observation, but Gunnery Sergeant Galindez is insisting he wants to go home."

"We'll just see about that," Austin muttered making the Admiral hide a chuckle behind his hand. "I'd like to see him now, if I may Commander."

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