1930 EDT...

"Wow...that was great..."

Austin smiled at the compliment and looked at the lonely half a chicken breast still sitting on the serving dish. "I guess Marines can pack away their food."

Victor chuckled and nodded. "You bet. I don't think I've ever met food I didn't like. No-I take that back. Meatless meatloaf is not for the faint of heart."

Austin pushed away from the table to clear it. "I've heard a lot about this meatloaf. I might just have to ask Commander Rabb for the recipe."

"Trust me, you don't want to do that," Victor answered in her ear as he walked behind her to lift the plates from her hand sending a shiver down her spine at his warm breath on her skin.

"You cooked a great meal Austin, the very least I can do is help you by washing the dishes."

"You don't have to do that, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I'll put on some music then at least keep you company out here."

Victor watched her walk away out of the corner of his eye admiring the way her black denim jeans clung to her hips. Man she looks good-what I wouldn't give to spend a good long while kissing her.

Austin returned after he'd filled the sink and put the silverware in to soak. Martina McBride's "Happy Girl" was playing and she hummed along as she transferred the few leftovers into Tupperware dishes

"You can sing if you want to...I'm not a critic," Victor told her as she walked over and put some plates into the hot soapy water.

"Nooo, I don't think so. We're just getting to know each other. My singing is one of those things that should wait until we've been married about 60 yea-" Austin clamped her mouth shut cheeks flaming scarlet as her mind processed what she'd said.

"OH MY GOD," she groaned slapping her hand on her forehead. "I can't believe I said that. You can run away now if you want."

Austin busied herself by wiping off the stove, keeping her back turned in case Victor did decide to go. She nearly jumped from her skin when his hands fell on her shoulders kneading gently.

"Don't be embarrassed...and I'm not running. I think you're pretty interesting Austin Bradford and I want to get to know you and see where this goes. And if it ends up with marriage then you're not going to hear me complain."

Austin turned smiling as his hands stopped moving over her shoulders and slid down her back locking around her waist as they looked into each other's eyes. She saw his head dipping down and closed her eyes reveling in the touch of his lips against hers.

They kissed for several minutes before Austin moved away a little needing to come up for air. She moved one of the hands she had been resting on Victor's arms and stroked his cheek. "We could just forget about the dishes and go sit down in the living room."

"I think I'd like that Austin," Victor answered kissing the tip of her nose keeping his arms firmly locked around her waist.

"Or we could just stay here..." Austin sighed moving closer to kiss him again.

"Let's go get comfortable."

Austin took one of his hands from her waist and tugged him after her into the living room. They sat on the sofa and moved back into gentle, soft kisses.

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

Later...

"The meal was great," Victor enthused again as he handed Austin a plate to rinse and dry.

"Well it's either cook or starve. I can't afford to eat out every night. I'd have no money and huge hips," Austin laughed easily.

"You look outstanding just the way you are Austin," Victor murmured.

"In order for me to keep looking outstanding Victor, I'm going to be need to jog in the morning."

Victor gave her a sour look and sighed. "I was a Sheriff's Deputy for awhile Austin...I saw what can happen to a woman when she goes out jogging alone. Call me overprotective if you want, but I don't want to see you bloody and bruised wrapped in a blanket to preserve your modesty while you sit in the back of some cop's patrol car and try to tell him what happened."

"Easy Victor...I'm not disagreeing with what you said and trust me I don't ever want to be in that position either, but I'm not going to live my life in constant fear of what might happen. I'm a woman...I've pretty much accepted that there's a chance no matter how careful I am I could wind up the victim of an assault or rape."

"It's not right!" Victor ground out harshly. It bothered him that all the women he knew understood and accepted the risks of being female without living in constant fear of what could happen. There shouldn't be any risks in his mind. Everyone should be free to live their lives and be happy.

"No, it's not...but worrying about it and giving yourself an ulcer over it isn't right either," Austin soothed rubbing his shoulders as she moved to stand behind him. "You're too tense Victor...this was supposed to be a relaxing night."

He dropped the dish cloth into the soapy water and turned letting her rub his shoulders while he put his arms around her waist again. "I'm not trying to tell you how to live Austin, but I can't help but wish you wouldn't jog alone..."

"Shhh..." Austin put her finger over his lips before moving in to replace it with her lips. "No more talk like that tonight."

"No arguments there."


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



Monday Morning
JAG HQ

0900 EDT...

"Good morning Gunny," Harriet called gaily as she stepped into the small kitchen area to get some coffee and put her lunch in the refrigerator. She and Austin had spent a good two hours on Sunday talking about her dinner with Gunny and Harriet just knew things were going to be perfect.

"Morning Ma'am." Victor had the feeling the smile on her face had little to do with the beautiful Fall day outside and more to do with her success as a matchmaker.

"Miss Bradford is going to be coming in today to meet with the Admiral," Harriet said slyly looking at him out of the corner of her eyes to see if he would react to the news at all. She frowned when he didn't...then reminded herself she should have known better. He was a Marine, he wasn't going to let his personal feelings out here in the office.

"It will be nice to see her again Ma'am," Victor had to give Harriet that much. She'd looked for a second there like someone had popped her balloon when he hadn't reacted to the news he might see Austin again.

The fact was he was going to see her that day anyway. She'd called that morning asking if he wanted to jog with her after work. She confessed that she'd tried to go for a jog that morning but some how she'd just felt it was wrong to be out there alone.

^^^^^

"Here it is a perfect cool morning...and I couldn't jog because someone reminded me this isn't the safest place in the world."

Austin's voice sounded faintly annoyed on the other end of the line and it made Victor grin as he sipped his coffee and looked out his living room window.

"I didn't mean to ruin it for you."

"You don't exactly sound contrite Gunnery Sergeant...more like smug! Just for that you have to jog with me when you finish work tonight. You can show me the gym and the track."

"It would be my pleasure Austin. I should let you go so we can both get to work on time."

^^^^^^^^

Victor settled behind his desk looking at the inbox overflowing with office supply catalogs, inventory sheets and maintenance requests. This was certainly not what he'd planned to be doing with his life, but he was a Marine and he would adapt.

The elevator dinged and he looked up to see Austin step out. She looked great in the conservative gray suit even if the skirt was almost down to her ankles. She was sporting a visitor's badge on her lapel and carrying her laptop case in her hands.

"Good morning Miss Bradford," Victor heard as Commander Rabb stepped out of the break room with a cup of coffee in his hands. He watched as the handsome man offered to take her laptop, smiling and shrugging when she declined.

The admiral had been waiting in the doorway of his office watching Austin coming in. He was anxious to start working with her to see if she was as passionate as she had come across in her interview. It was an interesting case he had for her too, one he felt would give him a good idea about whether or not she would be an asset to his office. A Seaman with a Down Syndrome daughter adamantly refusing any aid or help, saying over and over he didn't want his daughter identified and labeled for anything.

"Welcome Miss Bradford. I trust you've come ready to work."

"Good morning Admiral Chegwidden. I am ready to work. Looking forward to working actually."

"Well good then...why don't I get you started in my office. Staff call is in 30 minutes...you can give us a preliminary report at that time," AJ watched her eyes widen slightly smiling inwardly as she clamped down on the protest obviously on the tip of her tongue.

"Very well Admiral...but I don't need to use your office. I'm sure you have things to do and I noticed the break room on my way in."

"Nonsense...you can't work in there. My office is fine."

Gunny caught the entire exchange while he was supposedly fixing the fax machine which had conveniently jammed right before Austin's arrival.

"Gunnery Sergeant Galindez...is there a reason the fax machine requires your attention at this precise moment?" the Admiral raised an eyebrow as he asked the question smiling at the flush that crept up the back of Gunny's neck. So...Harriet had been busy again. AJ chuckled to himself and considered turning her loose on Harm and Mac.

"No sir," Victor answered in a firm voice standing at attention.

"As you were Gunny. Why don't you see if Miss Bradford wants some coffee while I go have some words with Commander Rabb."

"Sir, do you need your aspirin?" Tiner asked opening the desk drawer to take out the bottle.

"Not yet Tiner...but probably when I come back. If you have some hip waders in that drawer I bet I could use those."

"No sir...no hip waders."

AJ smiled then left the room heading for Rabb's office.

A soft knock on the door made Austin look up from the file she was perusing. "Good Morning Gunnery Sergeant Galindez."

"Good morning to you Miss Bradford. May I get you some coffee?" Victor asked smiling warmly at her since his back was to Tiner.

"No thank you...but I would like a glass of water and a pencil and notepad."

"I'll have them for you right away Ma'am," Victor nodded "And you may call me Gunny."

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

0930 EDT

JAG HQ
Conference Room...

"Before we begin talking about your cases today, I would like to introduce everyone to the newest Exceptional Family Member Program Coordinator, Austin Bradford. I'll let Miss Bradford tell you what exactly her job is."

"Thank you Admiral Chegwidden," Austin nodded politely to him and looked around the table. "I'm Austin Bradford...the EFMP Coordinator. According the Secretary of the Navy, I was hired for my expertise and skill in dealing with the State Boards of Education in Virginia and Maryland. I will be following up on cases of Navy and Marine personnel with Special Needs children referred by Bethesda or by the parents themselves. If necessary I am qualified to administer evaluations used to determine eligibility for Special Education Services for preschool and school age children. I will act as a liaison between the family and the various service organizations they are working with."

AJ nodded when she was done speaking. "Why don't you tell us a little about Seaman Fletcher, Miss Bradford."

Austin pulled the legal pad she'd been writing on out from under the file folder glancing over her initial impressions. "Seaman Fletcher is a young father. He's only 19, with an 18 year old wife and a 1 year old daughter. His daughter, Danielle, was diagnosed with Down Syndrome during an amnio before she was born. Since that time her pediatrician at Bethesda has been trying to do his job and bring Danielle and her family to the attention of the Navy so she may be evaluated. Seaman Fletcher is not interested and is very vocal about his disinterest."

"How vocal?" Harm asked when Austin stopped to take a sip of water.

"He punched the doctor in the face the last time it was mentioned. He said he doesn't want to lose his chance to advance his career in the Navy and if Danielle is identified that would happen."

"What is your feeling about this case Miss Bradford?" AJ probed.

"My feeling is that he is scared and overwhelmed. I want to talk to him and his wife. I'm not in the Navy per se and maybe he'll feel a little better about talking with me."

"Excellent idea Miss Bradford. I would like for you to bring someone along on the meeting to be sure the Seaman does not become physical."

"With all due respect Admiral, I don't think that's a good idea. I don't want to come off as threatening and seeing me with someone in a uniform isn't going to help me much in that area. I'll be fine," Austin said confidently.

"I don't like the idea," AJ answered eyes narrowing as he stared at the young woman. The look made those who knew him around the table cringe ever so slightly, but Austin just stared right back.

"I'm sorry Admiral sir, but I have to insist that I be allowed to do my job in the way I see fit," Austin answered hoping she wasn't sounding belligerent or defensive to the Admiral. The Secretary of the Navy had told her that Admiral AJ Chegwidden was a force to be reckoned with and she'd do well to stay on his good side.