ALL EYES ON GUNNY
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JAG OFFICES – Thursday December 5th
Gunny returned to work a few days later. Knowing what actually happened, no one was going to let him live it down.
"Good morning, Gunny." Sturgis smiled. "Care for a donut?
"Good morning, Sir." Gunny replied. "No thank you."
"Hey Gunny, welcome back," Mac said. "At ease, Gunny, have a six, I mean seat."
Gunny realized that he was going to be hearing a lot of those comments. At least he knew it was in good fun, they really were his friends.
"Welcome back, Gunny." Harm said. "So is everything okay between you and Tiner? Are you angry with him or have you turned the other cheek?"
By now, Harm, Mac and Sturgis were laughing. Gunny was trying to be a good sport about it, but even it wasn't easy.
"Attention on deck." Tiner called out as the Admiral walked out of his office. He knew what the laughter was about.
"Ok people, enough. Stop making Gunny the butt of your jokes." The Admiral said with a sly smile. "Good to have you back Gunny."
"Thank you, Sir." Gunny said. This was going to be a long day.
LUNCHTIME
The jokes had finally subsided and Gunny was back in the swing of things. He was in Mac's office when a woman approached Harriet's desk.
"Excuse me; I was looking for Gunnery Sergeant Galindez." Ashlyn said.
"One moment, ma'am, may I tell him who's looking for him?" Harriet said with a smile.
"Yes, thank you. I am Dr. Spaulding." Ashlyn said.
"I'll be right back." Harriet said walking to Mac's office. "Excuse me, ma'am."
"Yes, Harriet." Mac replied.
"There is a Dr. Spaulding here to see Gunny." Harriet said with a smile.
"Go ahead, Gunny." Mac said. "We can finish later."
Gunny walked out into the bullpen and saw Ashlyn standing there. He tried not to show it but he was very happy to see her.
"Ash… Dr. Spaulding, what brings you here," Gunny said with eyes on him.
"I am off today and I thought I would check up on my favorite patient." Ashlyn said with a smile. "I hope that's ok."
"Yes, ma'am. It's fine, that's very nice of you." Gunny said trying to be cool.
"Well, I know you don't have anyone to watch your back." Ashlyn said. This comment got laughs from the onlookers.
"No ma'am, I don't." Gunny said shaking his head.
"Gunny, aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?" Harm said watching the events.
"Yes sir. Dr. Ashlyn Spaulding, this is Commander Harmon Rabb, Commander Sturgis Turner, Colonel MacKenzie, Lieutenants Roberts and Sims and you know Petty Officer Tiner." Gunny said, to the crowd that had formed.
"A pleasure to meet you all," Ashlyn said. "Well, I should get going; I just wanted to check on Gunny."
"What's your rush?" Harm asked.
"No rush, I'm sure you're all busy." Ashlyn said not knowing what to make of it.
"We're not busy. Really," Harriet piped in. "So you're a doctor?"
"Yes, I'm an attending at Mary Washington. I was on duty when Gunny came in the other day." Ashlyn said.
"Gunny, weren't you just leaving for lunch?" Mac mentioned.
"No ma'am, I mean yes ma'am." Gunny said.
"Well, it was nice meeting you Doctor." Sturgis said walking away.
"Dr. Spaulding, where did you go to medical school?" Bud asked.
"New York University," Ashlyn replied. "Ever been there?"
"No, but I hear it's a good school." Bud said.
"It's the best." Ashlyn said flashing a smile. "So Gunny, as long as you are taking lunch, care to join me?"
"That would be great." Gunny said enthusiastically. "I mean I would be my pleasure."
"Well, it was nice meeting you all." Ashlyn said as they walked away.
"I'm sure we'll be meeting again." Harm said with a smile.
Once Gunny and Ashlyn were out of earshot, they all looked at each other and laughed.
"Gunny's in trouble." Mac said.
"Why, I think she's sweet." Harriet said.
"Did you see her? That girl is going to give him a run for his money." Mac laughed.
"What makes you say that?" Harm asked.
"The mischief in her eyes," Mac smiled as she walked away.
AT A LOCAL DELI
"So," Ashlyn asked. "How did Lt. Roberts lose his leg?"
"How did you know?" Gunny asked.
"I noticed the slight limp when he walked over and the cane." Ashlyn said.
"Oh, he was trying to save a little boy in Afghanistan and he stepped on a mine." Gunny said.
"Wow, that was not the answer I was expecting to hear." Ashlyn said.
"I didn't find out about it until after I came back from Afghanistan." Gunny said. "But he seems to be doing well. He and Lt. Sims are good support for each other."
"Now that I didn't pick up on, they're a couple? That's so cute." Ashlyn laughed.
"They're married. There's a lot of love at JAG." Gunny said with a laugh. "Some more obvious than others."
"Really? I hear a story there. Is there a story?" Ashlyn asked.
"Not yet." Gunny said.
"So how long were you in Afghanistan?" Ashlyn asked.
"About 6 months." Gunny said flatly.
"You don't want to talk about it." Anna stated.
"No, sorry," Gunny said.
"Ok, then tell me how you're feeling. Any problems?" Ashlyn asked.
"None at all, I had a good doctor." Gunny smiled.
"Well, if you ask Sam, she says I am the best." Ashlyn laughed.
"Oh right, is she back?" Gunny asked.
"Who knows, she leaves town for a day and comes back a week later. Sam's schedule is crazier than mine." Ashlyn said.
"You two sound like good friends." Gunny remarked.
"Oh the best, we met when we were kids in California. Then she had to move. We kept in touch, did our graduate work at NYU, I was in the medical program and she was in journalism." Ashlyn said. "Then we both got jobs down in the DC area."
"So you guys are from California?" Gunny asked.
"Well, I was born and raised in Carmel. Sam only lived in California for 6 months." Ashlyn said.
"I grew up in New Mexico." Gunny said.
"Did you ever go to California?" Ashlyn asked.
"Yeah, my cousins and I went a few times." Gunny said.
"We could have passed each other on the highways." Ashlyn laughed.
You never know." Gunny replied. "This has been nice, but I need to get back."
"Wow, time flies." Ashlyn said checking her watch. "I was supposed to go grocery shopping."
"I guess we better get going then." Gunny said, as they got up and walked back to JAG.
"Hey, Gunny. If you're free Saturday, some friends are coming over to watch the Army/Navy game. Care to join us?" Ashlyn asked.
"Sounds like fun, I was just going to watch with Tiner." Gunny said.
"Bring him along." Ashlyn said. "The more the merrier. Just be warned Sam is die hard Army."
"We'll change that." Gunny laughed. "Where do you live?"
"Do you still have that post care paper?" Ashlyn asked with a smile.
"Yes, at home." Gunny replied.
"My address is on the back." Ashlyn said with a laugh.
"Are you always so attentive to your patients?" Gunny asked.
"Just the cute ones," Ashlyn replied. "I'll see you Saturday."
She got into her car and left, once again leaving Gunny stunned.
ASHLYN'S HOME
"Pick up, pick up pick up." Ashlyn said as she paced.
"This better be important." Sam said in a very drowsy voice.
"Sam, wake up." Ashlyn said. "You're so charming."
"Ash what do you want? I had a long night, doing shots with a Marine. What?????" Sam whined.
"We have to have a football party on Saturday for the Army/Navy game." Ashlyn said.
"Why? You don't even like football." Sam whined. "And I am supposed to be at the game."
"Remember that marine?" Ashlyn said.
"The one with the bum full of lead?" Sam laughed. "Yeah, I remember, what about him?"
"I told him I was having some friends over for the game, and asked if he wanted to join." Ashlyn giggled.
"Number one, when did you get to be so bold?" Sam laughed. "Number two, what friends?"
"When I saw him," Ashlyn giggled. "And we have friends. Please?"
"Okay okay, I can't stand it when you beg. You owe me big!" Sam said; she'd never heard her friend like this before.
"Oh Sam, one last thing," Ashlyn said sweetly.
"What is it?" Sam groaned.
"Will you cook?" Ashlyn laughed.
