LITTLE AJ'S FEVER
I do not own the JAG characters. I do however own Sam and Ashlyn. The songs that are used are not mine. I have to give credit to some of the best song writers out there for them. See the end of the chapter. We all know the disclaimers so please remember them as you read so I don't have to type this at the start of every chapter.
This is not a sequel to Secrets, there is one coming. This is just something that popped into my twisted mind while listening to one too many show tunes. For the purpose of making sense, I would image this takes place before the Valentine's chapter. But it is not really happening. The songs are being sung they are not background. Enjoy and please review. ==============================================================================================================================
LITTLE AJ'S BEDROOM
"Maaaaaaaaaaaaammeeeeeeeeee!" Little AJ cried out at 3am.
"AJ, what's wrong?" Harriet asked rushing to his room.
"I have a drum in my head." Little AJ replied, rubbing his forehead.
Harriet went to her son's side and felt his forehead.
"Bud, he's burning up." Harriet called out. "Bring the thermometer."
"On the way honey," Bud replied. "Hey buddy, what's wrong?"
"Daddy, I don't feel good." Little AJ replied.
"AJ, hold still so mommy can take your temperature," Harriet advised. "Bud, it's 103."
"I'll get car, we'll take him to emergency." Bud said.
"I'm calling Ashlyn." Harriet said. "Wait here with AJ."
Harriet went and called Ashlyn, it was good having a doctor in the "family". Twenty minutes later Ashlyn arrived.
"Ashlyn, I didn't mean for you to come here." Harriet apologized.
"Harriet, it's fine. Of course I would come right over." Ashlyn smiled. They went up to Little AJ's room.
"Hi, AJ," Ashlyn said softly. "Mommy told me you feel funny, you want to show me?"
"Here," Little AJ replied, pointing to his head.
"Can I take look?" Ashlyn asked and Little AJ just nodded.
Ashlyn checked his ears and throat. She then took his temperature again.
"He's got an infection," Ashlyn announced. "AJ, I am going to give you something to make you feel better, ok."
Ashlyn gave him some antibiotics, tucked him in and went to Harriet and Bud.
"He should be fine." Ashlyn smiled. "Why don't you guys get some sleep, I'll watch him."
"Ashlyn we can't ask you to do that." Bud replied.
"You're not asking, I'm offering. Now go on." Ashlyn smiled.
Harriet and Bud relented and went to their room. Ashlyn sat in the rocker next to AJ and put a cool compress on his head. It might take some time, but Ashlyn was confident that the fever would be short lived. Little AJ was a bit restless but finally he settled down and fell asleep.
INSIDE LITTLE AJ'S HEAD
Little AJ was suddenly transported to the JAG offices, he wasn't sure how he got there but there he was. No one could see him, so he just wandered around and watched the grown-ups.
Good morning Admiral." Tiner said. "How are you today?"
"Well Tiner, I am having a great day." AJ replied.
"Really Sir, that's good to hear." Tiner smiled, "Any reason for it?"
"Just look out the window son." AJ said.
"It's the parking lot Sir." Tiner replied.
"No Tiner, really look." AJ said and then began singing.
"OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING
OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY
I'VE GOT A WONDERFUL FEELING
EVERYTHING'S GOING MY WAY"
"I think I understand what you mean Sir." Tiner smiled.
"Good, now go get me those requisitions to sign." AJ smiled and went to his office.
That's strange Uncle Jason calls Uncle AJ, Admiral, that's not his name. They all call him, Admiral. Maybe they call him that because he's like the daddy. Little AJ thought as he walked around; he saw his mommy sitting at her desk.
"Good morning Colonel, how are you today?" Harriet asked.
"Fine Harriet, how are you?" Mac asked.
"Very well, Ma'am." Harriet replied.
"Oh Harriet before I forget, would you be able to do some research for me?" Mac asked.
"Of course, I would be happy to." Harriet smiled and took the folder from Mac.
"Is Harm in yet?" Mac asked.
"Not yet Ma'am," Harriet replied.
"Oh, it's just as well." Mac sighed.
"Is everything okay?" Harriet asked.
"I guess so." Mac replied.
"If you need to talk, you know where I am." Harriet smiled.
"Thanks, Harriet." Mac said and went to her office.
Hmmm, Auntie Mac is always looking for Uncle Harm. I wonder why? Little AJ thought as he went to the elevators. Oh there's daddy with Uncle Harm and Uncle Sturgis. I wonder what they are talking about.
"Harm good to see you on time for a change." Sturgis joked.
"You have no idea." Harm whined.
"What's the problem Sir?" Bud asked.
"I just hate mornings." Harm groaned.
"What do you mean?" Sturgis said.
"Well…" Harm began and sang.
"Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning,
Oh! How I'd love to remain in bed
For the hardest blow of all is to hear the bugler call:
'You've got to get up, you've got to get up,
You've got to get up this morning!'"
Someday I'm going to murder the bugler
Someday they're going to find him dead
I'll amputate his reveille and stomp upon it heavily
And spend the rest of my life in bed!
A bugler in the navy is the luckiest of men
He wakes the boys at five and then goes back to bed again
He doesn't have to blow again until the afternoon
If ev'rything goes well with
me I'll be a bugler soon!
"Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning,
Oh! How I'd love to remain in bed
For the hardest blow of all is to hear the bugler call:
'You've got to get up, you've got to get up,
You've got to get up this morning!'"
Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning,
Oh! How I'd love to remain in bed"
"But Sir, you don't get up to reveille." Bud reminded him.
"I know that, I was just explaining how I feel." Harm replied.
"Harm, you just have to get used to it." Sturgis laughed. "It's not like this is your first day on the job."
"Good morning Sirs," Gunnery Sergeant Galindez said.
"Morning Gunny," They all replied.
"The Admiral would like to see you all ASAP." Gunny advised them.
"Thank you Gunny," They replied in unison.
Uncle Harm is funny. Little AJ laughed, that time I stayed with him and Auntie Mac, it took us forever to get him to wake up. Hmmm, the Uncle AJ wants to see them a sap. I wonder why he wants them to be trees.
AJ'S OFFICE
Little AJ followed them all to the Admiral's office and noticed everyone was already there. I wonder what Miss Ashlyn and Miss Sam are doing here. I know they aren't in the navy. Little AJ looked around the room and saw a figure standing to the side. That's Mr. Webb, daddy sighs every time his name is mentioned.
"Reporting as ordered," Harm said for the group.
"At ease," AJ replied.
"Excuse me Admiral, why are we here?" Sam said referring to her and Ashlyn.
"I'm glad you asked," AJ smiled. "I have a surprise."
"And Webb's here, do we even want to know?" Harm mumbled.
"I'm as much in the dark as the rest of you." Webb replied.
"May I continue?" AJ asked sarcastically.
"Sorry Sir," Harm apologized.
"Now as I was saying, I have a surprise." AJ began. "We are all going to New York for the weekend."
"Are you serious?" Coates asked.
"Yes Petty Officer, I am." AJ replied.
"Sir, why are we going to New York?" Mac asked.
"Does it matter?" AJ asked. "We have an all expense paid trip, the best hotel, theatre and sightseeing."
"All expense paid? I wonder who did that." Sturgis mused.
"I have no idea," AJ replied. "It's not my dream."
"Excuse me Sir?" Tiner questioned. "What's not your dream?"
"I have no idea why I just said that." AJ answered shaking his head. "Anyway, we leave tomorrow morning from Union Station at 7am."
"This is going to be so exciting." Harriet said.
"AJ, why am I included?" Webb asked.
"I don't know, but I have reservations for everyone." AJ replied. "If there is nothing else, you are all dismissed."
Wait a second, Little AJ thought. How can they all be going to New York? Who's going to watch me? Why is it that I seem to disappear every time my parents have something to do? Maybe Uncle Mikey will come watch me. Hey, where did everyone go? It's just me and Uncle AJ, I better go find them.
THE BULL PEN
Little AJ left Big AJ's office in search of the others. He found them all gathered around Gunny's desk talking about the upcoming trip.
"I've never been to New York," Coates said.
"You'll love it." Sam smiled. "It's amazing."
"That's right you guys went to school there." Gunny stated.
"Yes we did. It will be great to go back." Ashlyn said.
"So, Webb will you be able to come?" Harm asked.
"He better," Sam said mischievously under her breath.
"I think I can make it." Webb said flatly.
"This is going to be such a great weekend," Bud said.
"Well, you know what they say about New York," Mac smiled.
"No what?" They all asked.
"It's a wonderful town," Sturgis answered and began to sing.
"New York New York a wonderful town
The Bronx is up but the Battery's down.
The people ride in a hole in the ground
New York New York it's a wonderful town
The Famous places to visit are so many
Or so the guidebooks say
I told my grandpa I wouldn't miss on any
So we'll be on our way
Gotta see the whole town
Right from Yonkers on down to the bay
Soon we'll be on our way
New York New York a wonderful town
The Bronx is up but the Battery's down
The people ride in a hole in the ground
New York New York it's a wonderful town
We've sailed the seas
And been the world over
We've been to Mandalay
We've seen the Sphinx
Ans seen the cliffs of Dover
But we can safely say
The most fabulous sight
Is New York by the light of the day
And we're on our way
New York New York a wonderful town
The Bronx is up but the Battery's down
The people ride in a hole in the ground
New York New York it's a wonderful town"
"It is a wonderful town Sir," Gunny said with a smile.
"You know what this means don't you?" Mac smiled.
The next thing Little AJ saw amazed him. His Auntie Mac, Uncle Harm, parents and everyone else started spinning around. Then he heard them begin to sing…
"We're going on the town
We're kickin' back the traces
We're gonna do the places
We've never done before
We're going on the loose
We're blowin' all our dough in
And we'll keep right on goin'
As if no one before had any fun before
Hot spots swank spots roofs and cellars
We're smart girls
And we're slick fellers
We're gonna paint it red
We'll fill 'em up and then drink 'em down
We'll have a ball alright
Cause, we're going on the town!"
Even Mr. Webb is singing, Little AJ thought with astonishment. Uncle Gunny just threw Miss Ashlyn in the air; I hope she doesn't get hurt. There's Miss Sam on Mama's desk about to do a flip, Mr. Webb better catch her. Oh wow, Auntie Mac and Uncle Harm look so neat I wonder how they learned to tap like that. Daddy just swung mama around in her chair, how come they never let me do that? Oh look, Uncle Jason and Miss Jenfer are doing a little sailor dance together. Boy, they have fun at work.
"Well, I guess we better get back to work." Sturgis remarked.
"At least we won't have to hand off any cases." Harm stated.
"I know, we're only missing Friday." Mac commented.
"I don't even know what to pack." Coates mentioned to Ashlyn and Sam.
"Bring casual for day time and dressy for evening." Ashlyn replied.
"I would pack something sexy," Sam said with a smile.
"I hear that," Mac laughed. "This is going to be a very interesting weekend."
REALITY
Little AJ's eyelids were moving so fast. His imagination was in overdrive. Ashlyn refreshed the compress and Little AJ turned over and continued his dream.
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Song List
Oh What A Beautiful Morning (Oklahoma) Rodgers and Hammerstein
Oh How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning (This is the Army) - Irving Berlin
New York, New York It's A wonderful town (On The Town) - Betty Comden and Adolph Green
On The Town (On The Town) Betty Comden and Adolph Green