JAG Headquarters

( Maryland, Virginia)

07:05 Zulu

Mason's POV

Lieutnenet Kat Mason breezed into JAG headquarters five minutes late. " Morning, petty officer!" She called to Jen Coates, who smiled back. " Good morning , ma'am. general Cresswell told me to tell you that he wanted you in his office seven minutes ago."

" I suppose I'm to be blamed for early morning traffic?" She muttered under her breath, knocking on her CO's door.

" Enter." The crisp voice answered, and she walked in, saluting smartly. " Sorry, sir. Traffic was a pain to get through this morning."

The general waved off her salute, and she sat down beside Vukovic, smiling a hello at him. He winked back, waving the folder that had been plaging her since their return from the USS Washington two weeks ago.

She scowled at him. " How wuold you two like to go undercover?" Cresswell suddenly asked, looking up from his paperwork. Kat and Vic exchanged a look.

" Are you sick of me already, sir?" Kat asked, laughing. " Does JAG DO undercover?" Vic asked, sitting back with his arms crossed.

" The CIA wants you two for an undercover op in Columbia. One of their operatives disappeared down there, and they want you two to go." He explained, looking none to happy with the request.

" They asked for us specifically, sir? Somethnig has to be up with that. I just got here, and lieutenent Vukovic hasn't been here for all that much longer. Do you know why they wanted JAG officers? Wouldn't their own people be a better choice?" Kat asked, sensing an alterior motive.

" All they would tell me on the phone is that no, their peolpe wouldn't be better, and they wanted two new people. It's completely up to you guys, but this feels a little..."

" Squirelly, sir?" Kat asked, and the general nodded. " That would work. I'm not sure what to think of this. If you do decide to go, and come back ina coffin, I swear, I'll reach beyond the grave and pull you back to kill you myself."

" Yes sir. No dying, sir." Vic said. " You're dismissed. You have until 08:00 to make your decision."

Kat and Vic left the office, and wordlessly went into Vic's office. " What do you think? Sounds pretty exciting to me. Dangerous, and we probably won't have all the info until the most inopportune time, but I've always wanted to do something like this." Kat asked, propping her hip up on the corner of his desk.

" Yeah, I agree. We should go. And here's whats in the folder, since it's been killing you to find out." He handed her the document, and she snatched it up eagerly.

And gave him the driest look possible. " My personnell files. You kept me in suspense for two weeks for my personnell files? I'm going to kill you." Sighing in disgust, she threw it back on his table.

He laughed. " That should teach you. Now, do we wait until 08:00, or tell Cresswell now?"

Kat checked her watch. " Nah. I'm starving. Want something from the deli?"

He blinked at her incredulously. " At seven in the morning?" " They carry breakfast items. Do you want something or not?" He looked like he was about to say no, but a gurgle from his stomach changed his mind.

" Yeah, large double double, and something good. Please." He said, and Kat snorted.

" What made you think I was paying? Fork it over, lieutenent." She said, and Vic dropped a twenty in her hand.

" Impossible woman." She smiled sweetly over her shoulder as she left. " Love you too."

JAG Headquarters

( Virginia, Maryland)

08:00

Vukovic's POV

Vic walked into the general's office, with lieutenet Mason by his side. " Sir." They choroused, and the general waved them into chairs.

" Sit. Lieutenents, this is Agent Callis. He'll be your contact should you choose to go on this mission." Cresswell said, pointing his chin towards a small, thin man with mouse brown hair.

" We've chosen to go, sir." Vic said, and Cresswell frowned. " You did? Ok. Callis, brief them. And if I find out you've withheld information..." The warning in his voice was evident.

" Don't worry, general. They will have all they need." Callis redirected his icy gaze to Vic and Kat. " All the information you need is in these folders. You'll have to memorize what's in here. The cartels you'll be meeting with will have done their homework, so you will want to be as familiar as possible with your new lives."

Vic opened his folder, and skimmed over the information hidden within. " I'm married? Am I supposed to know my wife's life story as well?" He said with a laugh. " What does she look like?"

Callis smiled, thin lips looking like a diagonal gash across his face. " Look to your left, lieutenent. There she is."

Vic and I stared at each other for a second before it dawned on us. " What? Is this a joke?" I demanded. " I'm supposed to be married to him?"

" Hey, don't sound so disappointed. You would think I was old and hairy." He said, a hint of a pout coloring his voice.

" Old, no. Hairy, I'm not too sure about. Agent, I don't know about this." Kat said, standing up.

" You'll be fine. Just act like you're acting now, and you'll do fine. Most married couples act like they hate each other, so you're halfway there as it is." Callis replied, and Kat sat back down with a sigh.

" Your plane tickets are in the folders. The flight leaves at 12:00 today, so get some stuff packed. And remember, you have to know your information." Callis said, and after a nod to the general, he left.

" This is what you get for agreeing to do something for the CIA. You're dismissed. Get your stuff packed." Cresswell said, going back to his paperwork.

" Well, Mr. Jackson, I'll see you in a few." Kat said, grabbing her coat and heading for the door.

" I'll pick you up at your apartment at 10:30, Katie." Vic replied, smiling at the look she shot him.

" Do you even know where I live?" She, fishing in her pockets for the keys to her Jeep.

" You live a few apartment houses down from where petty officer Coates lives, right? I know where it is." Vic assured her, walking her out to the parking lot.

" Kiss goodbye?" He asked, grinning at her. She scolwed back. " In your dreams, cowboy. You even try to make a move on me, you might be waking up less of a man." She waved her keys at him to emphasize her point.

" We'll see." He replied, with a conspiritors wink, getting into his truck.