Conclusion...

Thanks for reading and commenting!! :)

**********************************************************

Victor had grabbed the first aid kit from his desk and managed to catch Austin in his arms before she hit the floor. He lowered her gently down turning her head so he could see the small cut on her cheek where the knife had pierced her skin. It didn't look too bad, but he wasn't going to take any chances.

"Bring her in my office Gunny. She doesn't need the entire staff crowding around her when she comes to. You can call Bethesda from there as well," AJ suggested as he stepped forward kneeling down to lift Austin in his arms.

"Sir, yes sir," Victor answered following behind while the Admiral carried Austin into his office and put her in the chair behind his desk reclining it slightly.

"Take care of her Gunny. Rabb and I will deal with the other matter."

Victor watched as the door closed before letting the controlled mask on his face drop away.

"Austin?" he called softly as he pressed a piece of gauze over the cut on her cheek studying the laceration on her arm. It was longer, but much shallower and the bleeding had all but stopped. He applied gauze to that as well, taping it gently in place.

"Come on Aus, open your eyes...please," Victor pleaded softly while he moved the phone on the Admiral's desk closer and punched in the number for Bethesda alerting them that he would be bringing Austin in and what her injuries were.

By the time he hung up Austin was coming around.

"You're safe Aus, you and I are in the Admiral's office. As soon as you have your bearings a little I'm going to take you to Bethesda to get checked out," Victor informed her as he took her hands squeezing them between his.

"I passed out, didn't I?" Austin groaned shaking her head gingerly. Great, now everyone was going to think she was a hysterical female: just what she needed.

"You did," Victor agreed brushing a hand over her cheek. "Hell when he stuck that knife in your cheek I almost passed out. I wanted to kill him Austin."

"My Marine," Austin smiled fondly ruffling his short hair tenderly. "I kind of like having you around."

"The feeling is very mutual Ma'am," Victor teased knowing how much she hated that particular form of address.

"Gunnery Sergeant..." Austin warned narrowing her eyes at him.

"Aus...I'm gonna go way out on limb here, so don't shoot me down or anything...but how would you feel about maybe-uh-well...um...making our relationship...exclusive?" Victor felt heat suffuse his face at his words and was sure his face was flaming bright red, but he forced himself to keep looking in Austin's eyes.

"I think it might be time for that," she nodded feeling her spine tingle with nerves. She liked keeping her distance in relationships, not getting too close or too personal.

"I'm not used to being really close to someone Victor, I won't lie to you there. I'm more used to being on my own with someone to occasionally keep me company."

"I understand, but it can't be that way this time Austin: I want us to get close and be honest. I'll give you space, but if you try to shut me out I'm going to have to storm the door. I'm a Marine after all."

The sound of someone clearing their throat behind them made Austin and Victor jump.

"I was just coming to see how Miss Bradford was feeling," Harm stuttered.

"Much better thank you again Commander Rabb. I appreciate what you did," Austin smiled getting to her feet wobbling slightly.

"Easy does it Miss Bradford...let's get you to Bethesda so the docs can check you over, be sure you're okay," Victor reverted to a formal tone as he put an arm gently around Austin's back to help steady her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1150 EDT
Admiral Chegwidden's Office
JAG Headquarters...

"Admiral, Miss Bradford and Gunnery Sergeant Galindez here to see you."

"Fine Tiner, send them in,"

Clayton Webb turned in his chair to watch the two walk in noting how solicitous Gunny was being to the woman, holding the door, letting her enter first, nodding for her to sit down while he stood at attention by her side. "I'm glad to see you suffered no serious injury Miss Bradford."

"Thank you Mr. Webb," Austin answered before turning to the Admiral. "Sir, I'd like to respectfully ask why the two sentries on duty last night both issued public formal apologies to me."

"If they'd done their job last night you wouldn't have been put in the position you were this morning," AJ growled.

"I have to disagree Admiral Chegwidden."

"What??" Three men questioned in unison, looking at Austin as if she'd lost her mind.

"He was a desperate, frightened man. I don't think the sentries did a thing wrong: that man just wanted to be where he was too much to be stopped."

AJ shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Miss Bradford...I all ready have Rabb here to give me headaches and push my buttons: do you suppose you could try not to join him in those activities?"

"I can try Sir, but I have to speak my mind."

"Lord, I was afraid of that," AJ groaned. "Webb, why don't you tell us why you're here."

"I just wanted to let Gunnery Sergeant Galindez know that Pfeiffer sang like a bird. It was quite an elaborate scam going on. These men targeted diplomats for muggings and found out their whereabouts and plans from people they'd planted in the embassies. Pfeiffer and Ingalls were the muggers and they would get their orders to be on the Beltway at certain times and the diplomats, being basically kind men, would stop and offer to help."

"This group planted people in the embassies?" Victor asked in amazement.

"Yes they did...I have a team set to sweep the Israeli Embassy and several others to flush out the plants."

"So why Victor-um...Gunnery Sergeant Galindez?" Austin asked correcting herself quickly before meeting the Admiral's raised eyebrow with a calm look.

"He happened to stop. They were actually waiting for someone else," Webb answered. "You did a hell of a job serving your country Gunny."

"Thank you Mr. Webb, sir."

"Well, I'd best be on my way...nothing I like more than interrogating people," Webb got to his feet with a smile.

"I think you really mean that," Austin said when Webb had taken her hand to kiss her knuckles gently.

"I do," he smiled before leaving the office.

"Gunny, have a seat. I think I need to have a talk with you and Miss Bradford."

"Sir?"

"Don't look so worried Gunny...you can have a relationship if you want to. I just want us to all know the rules of engagement here."

"Interesting choice of words Admiral," Austin said.

"First: I don't want any public displays of affection at JAG Ops. I do not want to walk into the supply closet and find it being used as a rendezvous spot. The head is also off limits Miss Bradford, since I've found you in there once before."

"That was different Sir, and it hasn't happened since," Austin defended herself.

"I expect you'll both be completely professional about this. What you two do on your own time is your business, just keep it out of my office."

"Yes Sir, of Course Sir!"

"Dismissed," AJ looking back down at the reports on his desk. "Ah Miss Bradford...normally when one of my people is injured on duty I give them the rest of the day off. Did I not mention that to you?"

"You did mention it Sir, I just decided I wanted to be working. I am off next week after all."

"Fine then," AJ grinned. Two could play this game. "Gunnery Sergeant Galindez?"

"Yes Sir?"

"I am giving you a direct order to remove Miss Bradford from JAG Ops and be sure she does not return again today. Do you think this mission is within your capabilities Marine?"

"Yes Sir, I believe I am capable of successfully completing this mission," Victor answered snapping to attention.

"Very well then Gunnery Sergeant. You have your orders. Dismissed."

"You cannot be serious!" Austin growled looking shocked.

"Very serious...go home and rest," AJ smiled watching as Gunny escorted the sputtering EFMP coordinator from his office. They were a good couple and if what he'd overheard Rabb telling Mac was true they were now officially a couple.

"Now I just have to get someone to knock some sense into Rabb and Mackenzie," he muttered turning his attention back to his paperwork.

**************************** THE END*****************************