JAG Headquarters

07:00 Zulu

Vukovic's POV

Lt. Gregory Vukovic entered the office building whistling. " Hello, petty officer." He said to Jen, who smiled in return. ' I bet she likes me' he thought smugly, leaning on her desk, but she handed him a folder.

" Here, Vic. The general said to give this to you and send you into his office when you got in."

Vukovic took the folder a bit nervously. ' What did I do?' " Thanks, Coates." She returned to her work, and Vukovic knocked on the general's door.

" Enter." The general's voice said gruffly from thwe other side and Vukovic complied, saluting.

He noticed a young woman, no older than thirty, sitting in front of the general's desk, and wondered idly who she was.

" Lieutenent, meet your new partner, Lieutenent Kara Mason." He said, gesturing to the woman sitting down.

She stood up, smoothing the front of her marine uniform, and offered him her hand.

" Lieutenent." She said coolly, regarding him with an indifferent stare.

' Oh great. Another jarhead. I can tell we'll get along just fine.' Vic thought grimly, thinking of colonel Mackenzie and her attitude towards him.

" You can call me Vic." He said, flashing her his most winning smile. She raised an eyebrow at him like she could see right through him and sat back down.

Cresswell surpressed a grin at the exchange. Hopefully this new arrival would help knock the lieutenent down a few pegs.

" I have your first case here. A navy Petty officer charged with aggravated assult against a senior officer." Cresswell said, handing them a pair of folders.

Mason flipped through it and chuckled. " Boy, this petty officer is in deep. Decking a senior officer in the commissary at chowtime? Not a smart thing to do."

Vic looked at her. " Oh, and I suppose you have a spotless record."

" No, I'm just smart enough to not get caught." She shot back, and Cresswell started having second thoughts. This partnership might not have been a good idea after all.

" Well since you're so good at getting out of hot water, Kat, you can defend, and Vukovic will proscecute. You leave in three hours for the USS Washington."

USS Washington

( Off the coast of Florida)

11:00 Zulu

" We should go find our rooms first, and then go interview the colonel." Vukovic said as he and Mason got off of the helo. She shrugged. " Suit yourself, I'm going to interview first. Rooms can wait. My client probably wants to get this over and done with." She said as a navy commander ran over to them.

" Commander Sheppard. I'm to escort you wherever you want to go. Within reason, of course." He added, with a grin at Kara, who smiled back, much to Vukovic's annoyance.

' So she'll smile at HIM, but snaps at me. Marines.' Vukovic stepped forward and shook the commander's hand. " Lieutenent Gregory Vukovic, sir. We'll go to the-"

" Prisoner, if you don't mind, sir. We would like to get started as soon as possible.Lieutenent Kara Mason" She extended her hand, and Vukovic sent her a glare that she blatently ignored. The commander looked between them, not missing the exchange.

" No problem, lieutenent. Follow me." Vic walked up to Kara. " What was that?" She looked at him. " I told you I was going to interview. What's the problem? Is my assertiveness threatening your manhood?"

He scolwed. She was unbelievable! " FYI, I'm very confident in my manhood, so no, but I don't like to be-"

" Good." She sped up to catch up to Sheppard, eager to start her case. Vukovic ground his teeth, a habit he got out of in the Academy. This new arrival was rubbing him the wrong.

In spite of his annoyance with her, though, he couldn't help but notice the subtle confident sway in her hips as she walked away, and way her green skirt showed off her toned legs.

' Damnit Vukovic, get a lid on it. She isn't your type.' It was true. He usually went for tall, modelesque brunettes with brown eyes. She was the opposite. Sure, she had brown hair, but it was streaked with blond highlights and currently confined in a severe bun, and she had steely grey eyes, and she couldn't have been any taller then 5'2. So what if she had a nice set of legs?

" Coming, Lieutenent?" Mason called over her shoulder, and he grumbled under his breath, jogging to catch up to her.

She certainly had a bad attitude.

They entered a room with a tall, thin young man seated on a bunk, his head in his hands.

" Petty Officer Jones? Lieutenents Kara Mason and Gregory Vukovic." Mason said, and Jones jumped to his feet, saluting.

" Sorry ma'am, sir. I thought you were the cook. He's been trying to get me to eat all day, but I just don't have the appetite." Mason saluted back. " Don't worry about it, petty officer. I wouldn't want to eat if I being charged with assult on a superior officer either."

" So why'd you do it, petty officer?" Vic asked, sitting down on a chair beside a desk, and Mason sat on the desk.

Jones' eyes darkened. " Graines- the colonel- had been hitting on this young nurse for awhile. She had made it clear that she didn't want his attention, but some guys just don' t get it. I was walking into the commissary when I saw him dogging her again. She looked uncomfortable as hell, so I walked over and asked Sara-the nurse- if there was anyting wrong. Graines grabbed me and shoved me back, and I... just swung. I really didn't mean to hurt him,I just wanted him to back off of her. She's a really sweet girl, deserves better."

" Like you?" Vic asked, and the petty officer looked up, startled. " No, sir. I have a wife at home."

" But I know how it can get. You're out here without your wife, you get a little lonely, a pretty young woman comes along-" Kara grabbed his arm.

" Can I talk to you a minute?" She asked, annoyance evident in her voice. Vukovic nodded. " Give us a minute." She told Jones, and went out into the hall with Vic.

" What the hell was that?" She snapped. " I thought I was getting information." Vukovic replied, feigning innocence. " Where did you learn that technique? Iraq? Take it down a notch, Vukovic."

" What is your problem? You've been at me since this morning," Vic asked, and Kara crossed her arms. " I don' t know what you mean." " Sure you do. What do you against me?"

Kara sighed. She knew she had been being tough on him, but he reminded her of an old abusive boyfriend.

" Sorry. Let's start over. Lieutenent Kara Mason. Call me Kat." She smiled, and Vic was entranced. She was really beautiful when she smiled.

" Lieutenent Gregory Vukovic. Call me Vic. It's nice to meet you, Kat. Now shall we go interview this petty officer?" Kat raised a finger at him. " Keep it respectable."

He grinned at her. " I'll try my best."