Author's Note: First, let me start off with the usual disclaimer. 'JAG' and all its characters, etc. belong to Bellasaruis Productions. This is a FICTIONAL story that I made up in my own little mind. Just borrowing the characters of Mac, AJ, Sturgis, etc. I'll put them back in one piece (except maybe Lt. Singer). Sophie Aston, though is my character.

Okay, now that that's done, let me give you a little heads up on this story. I don't want to give away too much, but just so I don't lose anyone, the first part of this story takes place while Harm is gone from JAG, back on flight status . I might use some stuff from more recent episodes, but I might not. The character of Sophie Aston used to be at JAG a while ago (Before Mac or any of Harm's other partners) She left and now has returned. Enough rambling, on to Chapter One. Thanks for R &R!

Full Circle

Chapter One: The Return

The tall woman strode off the elevator purposefully. She headed right to the reception desk without hesitation. She wasn't wearing a uniform, but seemed to fit in with the military surroundings. If she was nervous, it wasn't apparent, as her face was blank. The petty officer in charge of reception took notice of her before she even reached the desk.

"Can I help you, ma'am?" He asked.

"Yes, Petty Officer, I have an appointment with the Admiral." She replied, handing him her visitor's pass. The petty officer looked at the woman. He didn't recognize her as any of the men's wives. She had a delicate beauty to her; surely she wasn't in the navy. Yet, she had correctly identified his rank.

"Petty Officer?" The woman asked, cocking her head to the side and peering at him with big green eyes. The PO was snapped out of his daze and consulted the pass she had handed him. After confirming that she indeed had an appointment, he directed her to the Admiral's yeoman, Petty Officer Tiner.

Walking through the headquarters, the woman looked around. There wasn't a single person that she recognized. As she made her way to the Admiral's office, she glanced at the assignment board. Only a handful of last names registered as familiar. I guess that's better than none, she thought. Coming to the yeoman, she smiled.

Petty Officer Jason Tiner looked up at the woman and smiled. "The Admiral will be right with you, ma'am."

She thanked him and was about to sit when the outer door to the office opened.

Commander Sturgis Turner stepped out of Admiral AJ Chegwidden's office and stopped in his tracks. There in front of him was the very last person he ever expected to see at JAG Headquarters.

"Sophie?" Turner asked. It wasn't really a question. Sophie was not a woman a man could forget.

"Sturgis!" Sophie exclaimed, green eyes smiling. "Last time I saw you..."

"Was at the Academy Reunion Ball." Sturgis finished for her.

"I see you gave up the life of a submariner." Sophie said, noting his JAG insignia.

"I did, indeed." Sturgis was about to ask her why she was there, but the Admiral had stepped out of his office and joined them in the outer area.

"Admiral." Sophie greeted him warmly.

"Commander Aston." Admiral Chegwidden replied. Upon hearing this, PO Tiner turned swiftly in his chair.

"Not Commander anymore, Sir." Sophie said.

"Actually, your paperwork was rushed through," AJ said. "Technically, you are out of uniform, Commander."

"I...well...I wanted to talk to you first, Sir." Sophie stammered.

"Nonsense." The Admiral cut her off. "You said you wanted to return to duty. Now you have. I expect you back here at 0800 tomorrow morning, Commander."