Author's Note: Didn't I? is a Montgomery Gentry song. I don't own In the Heat of the Night, just playing with the characters. Special thanks to Annewithane for loaning me Laura Daniels and for endless ideal bouncing with me and for Beta-ing this story. Check out her great stories staring Laura! A Test of Brotherhood and No Longer A Rumor.

Austin's POV

"Beau! Beau!" I kicked my shoes off as I came in the door. I couldn't believe my luck. After Parker had called me this afternoon, I went up to the DA's office and met with Laura and DA Darnell. We talked for over two hours, but it was worth it, cause when we were through I was signing a contract. I start Monday. Working in Laura's office, mainly doing clerk work until I pass the bar, but I would help her with her cases and go to court with her, just to get an understanding of how they do things. I couldn't wait to start. I also couldn't wait to tell Beau, if I could find him.

I searched through the house, finally finding him on the back porch, staring out into the backyard.

"Beau?"

No answer.

"Beau?" Still no answer. "Parker!"

He looked at me with surprise. Almost as if I shouldn't have been there. "Yeah?"

"I got a job," I smiled.

"That's great, Punkin," he smiled back, but the smile didn't quite match his eyes. Parker has the most amazing eyes. They're truly a mirror of his soul. If you know him well enough, they tell you his every feeling and thought, and right then his eyes were sad, mad, full of fear and questions. And 'Punkin'? He hasn't called me Punkin since I was three. I wondered what had happened after I talked to him.

"Parker? What's wrong? Did something happen?"

He shook his head, "Nothing you need to worry about. Come over here and tell me about this job. You'll be working for Darnell, right?" He patted the seat beside him.

I sat down and leaned against him. "In a round about way. I'm really working for Laura Daniels, but she works for Darnell, so yeah, I'm working for Darnell. I start Monday."

"That's just wonderful," he said. "I'm so proud of you."

I smiled, happy with his compliment. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was bothering him. I started to ask again, but he spoke first.

"Listen, I have to go down to Hattiesburg this weekend and take care of some business, will you be all right here alone?"

No. I am completely incompetent in taking care of myself. I've only been doing it for seven years. "Yeah, fine. What business?"

"Just a subpoena. Nothing for you to worry about. You have to get ready for your first day of work." This time his smile was ginuine, but why was he being so secretive? We always told each other everything. He may have been my big brother, and the person most responsible for raising me but he was also my confidante, and I thought I was his. "I'll get somebody to check on you while I'm gone."

"That's not necessary, Beau, I'll be fine." Sometimes, I swear he still thinks I'm eight years old.

"It'll make me feel better, okay?"

I shrugged. "Okay, whatever, but.."

"I know. It ain't necessary."

I laughed. "Come on, let's go celebrate." I pulled him to his feet. "Let's go out to eat. I can't face another one of our meals."

"What's wrong with our meals?" he laughed.

"Let's just say neither one of us excels at the art of cooking, big brother."

"Ya know what's sad? You're right."

Bubba's POV

I can't believe I let Parker talk me into checking on Austin. She's a big girl. She can take care of herself. So, why did I drive all the way out to his place?

Because Parker is my friend and he asked me to, and it's no less than he'd do for me. I couldn't help but wonder, though, just what Parker thought was important enough to take off this weekend and rush off to Hattiesburg in such a hurry for. And why Austin didn't just go with him.

Luann and Laura thinks its a woman, but, if it was, he wasn't saying anything about, which is odd, no matter how much Lonnie, Sweet and I tried to get him to admit it. Dee said she thought it was more serious than some woman. Said it kinda snotty too. Whatever it was that had him rushing off, he wasn't telling a soul about.

Anyway, I decided I'd stop by on my way home from work to see if Austin needed anything. Unfortunately, cause of some knuckleheaded kids who decided to celebrate Friday night by getting drunk and backing their truck off into a ditch, I didn't get off work until nearly eleven instead of eight.

I had to knock twice before she ever came to the door.

"Who is it?" she called.

"Bubba Skinner." I replied. "Parker asked me to stop by and check on ya. I'm a friend of his, we met at the station the other day, remember?" Great going, Braeden, bring that up.

"Well, I'm fine."

"Ma'am, I believe ya, but, I'd feel better if ya'd open this door and let me see that for myself."

"How do I know it's safe to open the door for you?"

I groaned frustrated. I didn't have time for this. "Your brother told me to come by and check on ya. Didn't he tell ya?"

"Yes, he did say he was going to ask someone he works with to come by. But how do I know you're really the person he asked and not just someone who heard him asking someone to come by and knew I was here alone?"

And I thought Parker could come up with some wild ideas. "Because ma'am..." How did she know that? "I'm a cop. That should prove I work with him."

"Let me see your badge," she demanded. "Hold it up to the side window."

I automatically reached for my shirt to unpin my badge when I remembered that I had to change clothes at the station since my uniform got covered in mud getting those boys out of that ditch. My badge was in my bag in my truck. I'm never promising Parker I'll look in on this woman again. She's too much trouble. She knows who I am, she saw me at the station, then again at Laura's office. "Hold on. I hafta go get it. I'll be right back."

"I'll be waiting, Lieutenant," I swear she giggled. Yeah she was definitely related to Parker.

I stomped off the porch and out to my truck. I grabbed my badge out of my bag and went back to the door. "Ma'am?"

"Hold it up to the side window."

A minute later the door opened and she smiled sweetly, "I'm so sorry about that, Lieutenant, but I have to be careful, you understand." She had the cutest little smirk on her face. Two seconds ago, I wanted to strangle her, but with her standing there in her bare feet and gown, with her hands on her hips, all I wanted to do was kiss that smirk off her face. Good thing there was still a screen door between us, or I might have been tempted to do just that.

"Lieutenant?"

I realized I hadn't spoken since she opened the door. Damn, what was it about this woman that turned me into a tongue-tied teenager? "Yes, ma'am?"

"Do I look okay to you? That's what you wanted to see, right?"

She looked more than okay but I couldn't say that to her. I don't think Parker would have appreciated that, besides, now that smirk was gone and she looked annoyed with me. Very annoyed. Well, I was just doing what Parker asked me to. "Uh.., yes, ma'am. Ya look like you're doing just fine. Do ya need anything?"

"No, and if I do, I'm more than capable to get it myself. I'm not six- years-old like Beau seems to think," she replied, icily.

"Really?" My temper got the best of me. "Maybe you should try acting like it then. I'm doing you a favor and you're giving me grief."

"No, you're doing my brother a favor, and you needn't bother. I can take care of myself. I do not need to be tucked in at night." Her blue eyes were positively cold looking.

I shouldn't have made the next remark. I knew it even as I was saying it, but I just couldn't stop it. "Lady, I promise ya, if I was to tuck ya in tonight, ya wouldn't have a single complaint about it."

Her mouth fell open in shock. Mine almost did too. I can't believe I said such a thing to a lady. How did she bring out the worse in me so quickly? She was just irritating.

She closed her mouth, then opened it again, as if she was going to say something, but she just closed it again. Then I realized she was trying not to laugh. At least I think she was. Either that or trying not to lose her temper. She closed her eyes and bit her lip.

When she looked back up at me, that icy look was back in her eyes. "Touche, Lieutenant. I guess I deserved that one. I am fine. Thank you for stopping by, since Beau asked you to, even if I do not feel that it is necessary. Goodnight." She shut the door before anything else could be said.

"Lock the door," I replied, through the closed door. I don't know why unless it was just to have the last word. "Goodnight." I stood there until I heard the deadbolt click before turning to leave. Just as I got to the steps, she turned to porch lights out.

I stumbled but caught my balance and looked back at the house once more before getting in my truck. Just think, I still had to do this Saturday night too. I wish I knew what it was I was doing that irritated her so.

Austin's POV

Beau came home on Sunday afternoon in considerably better spirits than he had left. Thank the good lord for that because by that time, I was nervous wreck about starting to work the next day.

I had finally gotten the rest of my things from Boston, so at least I had my clothes.

Lieutenant Skinner came by again on Saturday. He had Officer Luke Everett with him then.

Luke's kind of cute, you know. Slightly younger than me, but still a real cutie pie. They helped me move all of my boxes inside the house. That was sweet, even if it was the Lieutenant's idea and Luke only complained a little when they picked up a box full of law books.

Lieutenant Skinner didn't say much of anything to me, except to inquire about Parker. Instead, he just kept staring at me with those big dark blue eyes of his.

If I repulse the man so much that he can't even speak to me then why did he come over again?

I'm sure Beau would have been just as happy with Luke stopping by instead of Bubba. I know I would have been. Mr. Dimples is a hunk, and unlike the Lieutenant, who'll I'll admit is pretty hot himself, he doesn't know it and that makes it even better.

After they left, saying that they had to get back on duty, I unpacked everything. I don't know why. I'm just going to have to pack everything up again when I get my own apartment. Which I hope is soon. Don't get wrong, now, I like living with Beau, but I've never really been completely responsible for myself. I went form living with my family to Our Lady Academy to the dorms at Harvard and now here with Parker. I think it's about time I tried being on my own.

I guess I unpacked everything because I need for everything to be in order around me. A place for everything and everything in its place.

Of course that theory was shot to hell the next morning as I searched through my closest for something suitable to wear to work. I had thrown clothes all over the room. Beau laughed at me, saying it looked like a fashion tornado had touched down in my room. Then he told just to dress like Miss Laura and I'd be fine.

Now, Miss Daniels is a very pretty woman and she wears beautiful clothes, but her flowing feminine dresses and strappy sandals just aren't my style. I didn't even own any to wear if I wanted to. Pants are my style but one look at the other women in Darnelle's office had told me that wouldn't have been a wise choice either.

Finally, I put on the sit I had worn home with its almost too short skirt and three inch heels. So much for a good first impression. But, oh well, it's what's in your head and not on your body that counts. I'll just have to work harder to prove what's in my head, that's all.

I arrived at the DA's office twenty minutes ahead of time, but was still greeted by Laura.

"Hey, you look great!" She smiled.

Yeah, right.

"Come on," she continued. "We are going to court today. This morning in fact. I was hoping you would show up early so I'd have plenty of time to brief you on each case and you did. Don't worry though it's just basic docket stuff. Traffic tickets, a few misdemeanors, one attempted robbery, stuff like that."

"This morning?" Unbelievable.

She grinned, "Out of the frying pan and into the fire, huh?"

I nodded.

"She laughed, "Like I said, don't worry. All you have to do is watch. For today."

"Okay," I smiled, relieved.

Laura, with her auburn hair and her quick smile, had a cheery attitude that was contagious and soon, my nervous fears were gone and I was enjoying the work. I decided, I was going to love being an ADA for Newman County.

Parker's POV

"I'm getting an apartment, I'm getting an apartment." Austin came bouncing in my room, singing that as loud as she could. She had been looking for one ever since she had gotten her first paycheck. Now, it seemed she must have found one, but at six in the morning after I had just gotten off duty at two, I really didn't care.

"Didn't anybody ever teach you how to knock?"

"I don't know. Did you?" She grinned. "Get up."

"What do ya' want, Austin Isabella?"

"You," she replied. "To get up and come look at this apartment with me."

"Later, when I wake up."

"It'll be gone by then," she whined. "Besides, you have a phone call. A Boonie somebody. But I'll tell him..."

Boonie? That woke me up. "Tell him to hold on just a minute." I hadn't heard from him in years. Why would he be calling now? Unless.., unless the JAG had been questioning him too.

"Hello?"

"Parker? Is that you?"

"Yeah."

"You still out making the streets of Sparta safe from freaks like me?" he laughed.

"Boonie, son, we don't have any freaks like you in Sparta. Besides, our jail is for human beings only."

"Careful, now. You wouldn't want to hurt my feelings, now, would you?"

"I don't know," I laughed. "I might. I ain't decide that yet."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Was that your baby sister that answered the phone? Or did you up and get married on us?"

"Naw, man you're the only one to do that yet," I replied. "That was my Austin. She's staying here for a while."

"She sounds like a babe. Maybe I need to come down there and get to know her a little better."

"When pigs fly. Did you have a reason for calling me this morning?"

He laughed, "Relax, I'm a happily married man. Listen, did you get a subpoena thing from the JAG?"

"Yeah, a while back."

"What's that about, anyway?"

I looked around for Austin, but she was no where in sight. "Captain Alan J. Spirelli and my account of his death in May of 1969."

"You're kidding."

"Nope."

"Well, what did you tell them? Dodger and me are supposed to go talk to them today. Sweetness got one, too, but it ain't exactly like we can all him up and chat about it."

"I told them what we always agreed to say," I replied. "That he got us lost, wouldn't turn around, lead us into an ambush, refused to pull back, and got killed as a result of that battle."

"You didn't say anything about the..., did you?" he asked, nervously.

"No. Why would I? They don't know anything about that, and that's how I would like to keep it."

"Yeah, us too, but I just wanted to know if they asked about it. Why are they doing this now?"

"I don't know. Something about it never having been resolved back then, and now the guy who was supposed to investigate is trying to get everything straight so he can be promoted."

"Yeah, well, they need to be doing something about those sixteen boys Spirelli got killed cause he wouldn't listen to you and Dodger," Boonie muttered. "What did they want to know?"

"They just asked a bunch a questions about where we were, where we were supposed to be, and why we weren't there," I told him. "And why we didn't complete our mission."

"Because after Spirelli walked us into that mess there was only ten of us left and four of those ten were wounded, two seriously," he snapped.

"I know that. You know that but they don't know that."

"Yeah, well, they will. Listen I got to run. Me or Dodger one'll call you when we get back."

"All right. Good luck."

"Hey, no worries, right?"

"Right," I smiled. "Bye."

"Bye."

I hung up. This was bigger than I thought.

"Beau?"

Austin was behind me. "Yeah?"

"You going to come with me?"

"Yeah. Give me a few minutes, and we'll go."

"Okay." She went back down the hall. I wondered how long she had been standing there and what she heard.