Tuesday Afternoon
1630 EDT
JAG Headquarters...
Austin sighed and leaned back resting her head on the rungs at the back of the
chair. She had a pounding headache and all she wanted was to go home and climb
into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and forget the entire day.
Things had been tense all day, Victor was avoiding her completely and thank god
little AJ had developed a cold and Harriet had decided to stay home with him or
she would have been facing an interrogation by her friend.
She was packing her things when the Admiral walked into the break room looking
like a man on a mission. "Admiral sir, did you need to see me?"
"I did Miss Bradford...why don't you finish packing your things then stop
by my office on your way out," AJ said kindly smiling as he poured himself
another cup of coffee and left her alone.
"Great...let me guess: my presence here is no longer needed," Austin
grumbled feeling a fresh round of depression settle on her shoulders.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ten minutes later...
"Admiral, Miss Bradford is here to see you."
"Thank you Tiner, send her in."
Austin opened the door and stepped inside the office feeling like she was about
to be reprimanded for something.
"Have a seat," the Admiral said with a smile indicating the leather
chairs in front of his desk. "I've just had a conversation with the
SecNav."
"SecNav?" Austin asked bewildered by the term.
"Secretary of the Navy, SecNav. It seems the work space he was
readying for you in his office isn't going to be available after all. He
suggested that perhaps I could find you an office here at JAG Ops. I wanted to
talk to you first though...you seem a bit tense."
"It's nothing I can't handle Admiral Chegwidden."
"Trust me Miss Bradford, I do not doubt that for one second, but I want
you to know I care about my people and if you work under this roof you are one
of my people."
Austin smiled softly. "Thank you sir...and if you have the space for me I
would be happy to work here."
"Well...your space won't be as big as Commander Rabb's and Colonel
Mackenzie's, but it will be more private than the break room. There's a small
room we've been using for storage off the break room. Gunny and Tiner can clean
it out for you and we'll get you a desk and a table and anything else you think
you might need."
"That would be wonderful Admiral...and I can help clean it out."
"No...why don't you just go home now. Looks like you were headed that way
anyway. It will be all ready for you tomorrow morning."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Roberts' Apartment
1930 EDT...
"What do you mean things seemed tense Bud?" Harriet demanded turning
from the dishes she was washing to look at her husband.
"Austin just didn't seem very happy today, that's all and Gunny and Tiner
avoided each other all day."
"Oh no...Oh I hope something didn't happen...I should go see Austin."
Harriet wiped her soapy hands on a dish towel.
"Go on Harriet, you won't be happy until you talk to her and she could
probably use a friend," Bud smiled indulgently, hugging his wife as she
passed him.
Harriet rapped sharply on Austin's door wondering what had happened. Hopefully
nothing serious...
The door opened and Harriet smiled warmly at her friend. Austin looked a little
sad, but mostly tired. "Hey...up for some company?"
"Sure, come on in," Austin yawned stepping back and swinging the door
open.
"Is everything okay...you look kind of tired?"
Austin sighed and flopped onto her sofa letting Harriet sit before she spilled
her guts about Tiner asking her out and Victor hearing...then the confrontation
in the bathroom.
"Oh my...I can't believe Tiner asked you out to dinner!" Harriet
clucked in a miffed tone.
"I can't believe Victor got so upset about it...I mean slamming your fist
into the wall and hiding in the bathroom is pretty childish."
"It's called the head," Harriet responded absently. "Did you
talk to Victor after that?"
"No...not really. You know Harriet: I appreciate what you wanted to do,
but I don't think Victor and I are compatible," Austin picked imaginary
pieces of lint from the afghan draped over the back of her sofa so she wouldn't
have to look in Harriet's eyes.
"Of course you are...don't be silly and don't let Tiner and Gunny's
competitiveness ruin your day!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile
Victor's Apartment...
Since his arrival home Victor had managed to clean and organize every room in
his apartment. Now all he could do was pace the floor in the living room and
think about the day.
He'd been nuts to react as he had to Tiner asking Austin
out. She was pretty and they weren't dating exclusively, so what was wrong with
Tiner seeing if she wanted to have dinner with him. And besides, his
mind piped up, she told Tiner no.
"Christ I blew that one though...storming off like I did-It'll be a
wonder if she ever speaks to me again," Victor groaned reaching for the
telephone. He wanted to hear her voice even if all he heard was hello before
she hung up on him.
He dialed and listened to the phone ring once before it was picked up.
"Hello?"
She sounded tired, Victor thought, his heart twisting just a little bit in his
chest. "Hi Austin, it's Victor. Don't hang up."
"I won't."
"Austin, I'm sorry...I was a jerk today: just like you said I was. I guess
I just like you a lot and I want us to be able to get to know each other."
"We can get to know each other Victor, but you have to let me be my own
person. And you need to trust me. I like you too and I never had any intention
of going out with Tiner. He's nice, but he's not my type."
"Am I your type?" Victor asked bold since they
were on the telephone and Austin couldn't see his face.
He heard a soft laugh then her warm voice coming through the phone lines.
"I think you might just be Gunnery Sergeant."
"I think you're my type too Austin."
"Oops...Harriet's here and she's just come out of the bathroom. I'll let
you go now and I'll see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," Victor echoed knowing there was a foolish grin on his
face and not caring.
"Oh and bring your workout clothes Gunny...you owe me a jog."
Victor laughed as he hung up feeling like the weight of the world was
gone from his shoulders. Austin wasn't angry with him anymore.
*******************************************************
Wednesday
1420 EDT
JAG Headquarters
EFMP Coordinator's Office...
Austin was just hanging the last of the Paisley border at
the top of the wall when there was a knock on her door and Tiner poked his head
in.
"Miss Bradford, Seaman and Mrs. Fletcher are here to see you.
"Oh good...send them right in," Austin hopped off the chair and
looked at her gray knit skirt, brushing some dust from it before the Fletchers
walked in, Mrs. Fletcher carrying Danielle in her arms.
"We're here...don't know why you think I'm gonna trust you...you work for
'em," David Fletcher grumbled casting a baleful look at the older woman.
"The Navy gives me a paycheck, but they have not bought my loyalty. I am
here to do what is right for your family and for your daughter. That is my only
concern," Austin assured as she motioned for them to take seats at the
small table.
"Can you really help Danielle?" Denise asked hopefully bouncing the
little girl in her arms while Danielle cooed and grunted softly.
"I would like to...but my helping her is going to involve some tests and
I'll have to meet with your Base Commander. There will also be meetings you'll
need to attend so we can discuss whether there will be restrictions on where
you can be placed or not."
"I told you Denise! I'm never gonna get anywhere in the Navy if we let her
give Danielle a label!!"
Austin sighed. "That's simply not true. Your opportunities for advancement
will be the same as anyone else's would be. My only interest is being sure you
have the support your family needs so you can concentrate on your job."
"You're just like that doctor at Bethesda!" David hissed getting to
his feet and turning over the table making Danielle cry.
Austin moved back a step pulling Denise with her. "Seaman Fletcher-if this
behavior persists I am going to have to call for assistance and you will spend
the night in the brig."
"You're gonna take my baby and my wife away...I-I don't want that..."
the overtired young father slid down the wall to a seated position burying his
head in his hands.
"No one is taking your baby or your wife anywhere: I promise you
that. I'll give you a few minutes and maybe when I come back the table will be
right side up again and we can talk."
Austin walked from the room biting her lip willing her knees not to knock or
buckle until she'd closed the door behind her.
"I heard a crash...I was in the storage closet. Are you okay?" Mac
questioned looking at Austin's pale face and shaking hands. "Should I get
someone? Harriet is here."
"I-I'll be fine. It just got a little tense in there...I'm just going to
take a few minutes to compose myself."
"Here have some water," Sarah Mackenzie offered handing her a bottle
of water from the refrigerator. "If you need anything please let me
know."
"Thank you Colonel. I'm fine."
Austin sat at the table in the break room for several minutes breathing deeply
as she focused herself on calming down. One more deep breath and a smile
planted firmly on her face and Austin went back into her office.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1745 EDT
Track...
"You look frazzled," Victor noted with concern as Austin approached
dressed in a t-shirt and leggings.
"Rough afternoon," Austin answered softly looking down at her feet as
she scuffed the toe of her sneakers through the surface of the track.
"We don't have to jog," Victor replied putting a hand on her
shoulder, squeezing and withdrawing it quickly.
"N-no, I need a good jog and you owe me."
"Okay," Victor shrugged looking at her as they started off. "But
Austin, there's nothing wrong with asking for help if you need it."
"What I really need is a hug...and you can't give me that right now,"
Austin smiled softly. "So let's jog."
Victor got in front of her and jogged backwards for several seconds before
stopping and putting his hands on her arms. "Austin, please don't
think I don't want to touch you: I do, but it's against regulations. And maybe
it's just me being a stubborn Marine...I've seen Lieutenant Sims hug
Lieutenant Roberts a number of times, but I don't feel comfortable doing that.
I care Austin, don't doubt that."
Austin felt his hand brush the side of her face gently and she looked into his
eyes. "Thank you."
"You're welcome Austin, feel like jogging or do you want to unwind in the
sauna?"
"I definitely want to jog."
They finished their jog in companionable silence and walked
side-by-side to the gym before Victor spoke again.
"Do you have plans for Friday night?" he asked putting a hand on
Austin's shoulder to stop her before she went into the women's locker room.
"Other than cleaning my apartment and eating a pint or two of Ben and
Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice cream, no." Austin's voice didn't
sound as chipper and strong as normal.
Victor frowned squeezing her shoulder gently. "Would you like to have
dinner with me? I know a great little restaurant that has the best Chinese
food."
Austin looked up and Victor could see a hint of tears shimmering in her hazel
eyes. "I would love to have dinner with you."
"It's a date then," Victor murmured pulling her forward into his arms
for a brief second, giving her the longest hug he dared given that they were
still technically at work. "And I promise on Friday night if you need a
hug I'll give you the best one you've ever had."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday
0900 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Conference Room...
"Well now that I've heard about all of your cases...good work by the way
Lieutenant Roberts...I observed you in the court room yesterday. Very
impressive. Miss Bradford, have you made some headway with Seaman
Fletcher?"
Austin nodded "It was rough...my table wound up tipped over, but we did
manage to come to an agreement. The Seaman has agreed to let Danielle be
evaluated, on one condition."
"And what condition would that be?"
"That I be Danielle's Case Manager," Austin answered remembering the
day before when she had talked for the entire morning with the Fletchers in
their tiny apartment going over the tests she wanted Danielle to have to be
sure there were none of the congenital defects that Down Syndrome children
sometimes had. She had talked about the academic and cognitive tests as well
getting the young couple to agree as long as she was there every step of the
way with them.
"That's a bit unusual isn't it? You're the Coordinator, you are supposed
to get the process started and then assign a case manager," Harm spoke up
from his place across the table from Austin. Mac had told him about seeing
Austin during her first meeting with the Fletchers and he couldn't imagine her wanting
to subject herself to that on a permanent basis.
"It is unusual, but not unheard of,"Austin replied "The
Secretary of the Navy, SecNav...I guess said it was fine with him as long as
you didn't mind Admiral Chegwidden."
"Why would I mind?" the Admiral asked with a puzzled look on his
face.
"There will be times Danielle will have to come here so I can work with
her. I wasn't sure you'd want a child here at JAG."
"As long as I don't fine her swinging from the light fixtures or trying to
photocopy various body parts I don't have a problem with it."
"Thank you sir!" Austin beamed wishing she could rush around the
table and hug the older man.
"You're very welcome Miss Bradford. All right people,
let's get to work."
Austin walked out of the room feeling like she was on a cloud. Her first week
on the job and she'd all ready made a positive difference in one child's life.
"Good morning Miss Bradford, beautiful day out there, isn't it?"
Victor called as she passed by his desk. She looked happy and after Wednesday
it was wonderful to see her smile. And tonight he was taking her out for
dinner. Hopefully his trip to Quantico with Colonel Mackenzie and Commander
Rabb wouldn't take too long so maybe after dinner he could take Austin to the
movies.
"It's lovely Gunnery Sergeant," Austin stopped and dropped into the
chair beside his desk.
"Are we still on for tonight?" she asked in a low
voice.
"Yes we are...I have to go to Quantico with Commander Rabb and Colonel
Mackenzie, but I'll be picking you up at 1800."
"Gunny, are you ready to go?" Harm called from his office trying to
hide his smirk as he watched the Marine flush pink as Austin turned around to
look at him.
"All ready sir. Is Colonel Mackenzie ready?"
"I sure am Gunny. Let's get a move on," Mac answered stopping at
Gunny's desk.
"I just wanted to say welcome Miss Bradford. I don't think I've told you
how nice it is to have you here."
"Thank you Colonel...it's nice to be here."