Part 10...
August 15, 2001
0700 EDT
JAG Headquarters...
"I don't think you're supposed to be coming to work yet," Austin
grumbled to Victor as they stepped into the elevator on the ground floor.
"I was going stir crazy at home and since when is counting paperclips
anything close to hazardous duty?" Victor shot back.
He bit his lip after he snapped at her not wanting to let anymore of his
frustration leak out. Victor knew Austin was just concerned about him, but that
concern had nearly driven him nuts yesterday. Every move he had made had found
her asking him if he was okay or if he needed anything. He'd finally retreated
to the bedroom just to get some peace and quiet.
"Fine, I was only thinking of you," Austin answered shrugging.
"Victor sighed and leaned against the back wall of the elevator. "I
know Aus and I appreciate that. I'm a Marine and these bruises are
nothing."
Austin nodded deciding she wasn't going to say another word because she was
risking losing her temper with him. She didn't care if he was Superman: he
could still be hurt and not admitting that was just plain stupid.
"Want to have dinner together tonight?" Victor asked quietly sensing
she was upset with him and not wanting that to be the case.
"No, I'm sure you'll need the rest after today and I should get back to my
apartment and water the plants," Austin tossed back over her shoulder as
the doors slid open and she could step into the hallway and away from him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1000 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Conference Room...
"Well Miss Bradford, you've been on the job a little over a month. What do
you think of the way the Navy provides for its families?" The SecNav asked
as he leaned back in his chair studying the young woman.
"I think they do a fairly good job Mr. Secretary," Austin answered
honestly catching the Admiral raising an eyebrow at her statement out of the
corner of her eye. Diplomacy was fine and she was trying to use tact, but she
was not going to lie. She would have been as honest if she was talking to the
President.
"Only fairly good? What do you see as weaknesses?"
AJ groaned inwardly, this sounded like it was going to get ugly. Why couldn't
he have begged off on this meeting and sent Mac in in his place? Ah well, might
as well sit back and see how Austin dealt with the pompous, arrogant fool.
"Well Mr. Secretary, I have found many of the Case Managers are not up on
the most recent trends in early childhood education and intervention. They
aren't interested in prevention, more in putting a band-aid on after the fact.
I feel there should be some mandatory coursework to help these people brush up
on their skills."
"Interesting...please, go on."
"The only other weakness that I have seen is the relationships between the
case managers and some of the Evaluators and staff at Bethesda. It seems more
adversarial than it should be," Austin continued.
"Hmmm, and how would you propose mediating that problem?"
"I'm not sure...perhaps some meetings would be in order. To allow everyone
to sit down face-to-face and talk. In public school systems a child's team sits
down to make decisions together and every member of the team has input. In the
EFMP it sometimes feels like it's the parents and case manager against everyone
else."
"You brought up some interesting points Miss Bradford, very interesting.
I'll think them over and get back to you. Admiral Chegwidden, stay for a few
minutes if you please."
"Thank you Mr. Secretary, good day," Austin said formally as she got
to her feet amused when the Admiral and SecNav both got to their feet too in a
chivalrous gesture. She toyed with the idea of sitting down again but forced it
out of her mind. Now was not the time to play games. Besides she was sure the
men were going to talk about her when she left, she might as well clear out and
let them get to it.
She closed the door of the conference room behind her and walked through the
bullpen actively ignoring Victor as she passed his desk.
"Ouch...what'd you do to her Gunny?" Tiner asked as he walked by with
a stack of reports to file.
"Tiner, keep your mind on your job."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1445 EDT
Courtyard outside JAG Headquarters...
Austin had slipped out into the warm sunny day to get some fresh air and unwind
a half hour ago. Now she was sitting at one of the picnic tables a file spread
open before her when someone blocked the sunlight.
"Miss Bradford."
"Mr. Webb."
"Do you have some time to talk?" Clay asked noting how quickly she
closed the file and slid it closer to herself like she was trying to protect it
from him.
"A few minutes," Austin relented.
"It's about Gunnery Sergeant Galindez-" Clay began eyes widening when
she got to her feet.
"In that case you should speak to the Gunnery Sergeant, not me."
Austin turned on her heel and marched back into the building leaving a
mystified Webb behind.
"Wow...that was smooth Webb. That must be some kind of new record for you
in ticking women off," Harm joked as he took a seat.
"You could have warned me the two of them weren't speaking," Webb
growled wanting to wipe the smug grin off Rabb's face.
"And ruin the surprise? No-seriously Webb, I don't think they're
fighting."
"Then you tell me why at the mention of his name she closed down on me and
walked away," Webb spat crossing his arms over his chest. "I heard
from one of our muggers."
"Yeah?"
"Yep...he's ready to sing. I can't blame him since his buddy's come up
missing. No one's seen Todd Ingalls since Tuesday evening."
"What are we waiting for then? Let's go get him."
Austin stood just inside the door where she could see the two men talking
wondering at herself. There had been no need for her to get up and walk away at
the mention of Victor's name, but she had. She massaged her temples gently
sighing as she turned to go back to her office. Maybe it was time for a
vacation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1500 EDT
Admiral's Private Office...
"Admiral, Miss Bradford to see you."
"Send her in Tiner."
"Admiral Chegwidden, I would like to request some vacation time,"
Austin said as she handed the request forms across his desk.
"Next week? This seems sudden...have a seat Miss Bradford," AJ
suggested nodding to one of the leather chairs as he slipped his glasses on and
perused her request.
"I realize I'm not giving you 14 days notice sir, but I'm just feeling
like I need to get away for a bit."
"You did a fine job with SecNav this morning...impressed the hell out of
him. He's used to people telling him everything is fantastic whether it is or
not."
"Thank you Sir, that means a great deal coming from you."
"I'm going to take a guess here and say the meeting with SecNav didn't
precipitate this request," AJ replied taking off his glasses and looking
across his desk at her. "I'm going to hazard a guess it has to do with a
certain stubborn Marine who looks like he went a few rounds with Tyson."
Austin shrugged. "Not completely, but yes in part."
"Well, far be it from me to interfere in the personal lives of my
people...I'm sure you and Gunny can handle your own difficulties. Request
Approved."
Austin smiled. She genuinely liked the Admiral, he cared about the people he
commanded and he did it without interfering where he wasn't wanted or needed.
"Thank you sir...I'll send you a postcard from New York City."
AJ chuckled and shook his head. "You do that Miss Bradford. You do
that."
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