He was in the staff mess paying for his lunch when he spotted Colonel Mackenzie at table for four. Across from her, Joey Cassidy was eating soup. After all his ideas about manufacturing a way to run into her "by chance", finding Joey in the building unsettled him. He was unsure what to do. He knew that Cassisdy had ties to his staff and now he wondered what she'd shared with them about their evening. The cashier had to speak to him twice, in order to hand him his change. He picked up the tray then and walked over to the table. "Mind if I join you?"
'Of course not Admiral," the Colonel responded.
Joey looked up at the sound of his voice. He was sure, from her expresssion, thatshe was pleased to see him. He pulled up a chair on the same side of the table as the Colonel.
"This is my friend Lieutenant Commander Josephine Cassidy, Admiral."
"The Lieutenant Commander and I've met, Colonel." Mac looked surprised, but didn't comment.
Joey grinned, "I came to see you while you were TAD a couple of weeks ago and the Admiral gave me holy hell for hanging around Jag Ops. I suspect he's here for round two." Colonel Mackenzie's mouth dropped open and her foot connected sharply with Joey's shin. "OW!"
Mac glared at her. Took a sip of her water and looked sideways at the Admiral who was carving his roast beef into perfect squares and chewing. Mac shook her head. "Well, I have to be back in court in 20 minutes, so I better go get my notes organized. I'll see you this weekend Joe." Joey nodded and grinned.
"Thanks Colonel." Good luck with the rest of your lunch thought Mac, but only responded with raised eyebrows and a look of disapproval. Joey waved her soup spoon at her.
Joey waited until Mac had made her way to the tray station before she spoke. "Sorry Sir. It just popped out."
"Stop it Joey." He interrupted "I am glad to see you again. But I did give you hell and tell you to stay away. So I have to ask, what are you doing in the building?"
"I have a meeting inPublic Relations this afternoon, Admiral. When I mentioned it to the Colonel, she asked me to meet her for lunch, sir." Her tone of voice and suddenly formal demeanour held a warning. He followed her gaze over his shoulder and noticed Commander Rabb hovering
"May I join you?" Commander Rabb asked.
"Have a seat Commander." Rabb settled his long frame into the chair Mac had vacated directly across from Joey and to the left of the Admiral.
"How are you Lieutenant Commander?"
"Very good Commander Rabb. How are you? "
"Fine," he said into the salad on his plate.
The Admiral finished his meal in silence. As he gathered up his cutlery and picked up his tray he looked sternly at Lieutenant Commander Cassidy. "After your meeting, I'd like to see you in my office Lieutenant Commander."
"Yes sir."
Once Harm thought the Admiral was safely out of earshot, he ventured a comment.
"Are you trying to get court-martialled Joe? Mac told me what you said. How in the world have you managed to exist this long at the Pentagon? In politics, it's all about words and you seem to have your foot in your mouth all the time."
"Boldness is a character trait prized in the Navy, sir."
Rabb raised one eyebrow. "The Admiral will have your hide."
"Oh I don't know. I think maybe he has a sense of humour. After all he's put up with your shenanigans for quite a while."
"Don't change the subject." countered Commander Rabb. Harm grinned and laughed.
"Aw Harm, its great of you to go all brotherly on me, but really I don't need it. I'm a big girl and if I have to, I can take the lumps, even those dished out by a two star." She picked up her tray, turned on her heal and made for the door.
Admiral Chedwiggen had a stack of case files for review, but it was hard to settle down knowing that she was in the building. Finally he headed into the coffee room to refill his mug. Usually he let Coates handle it, but he need the diversion and he wanted to get an idea who was around this afternoon. Who would witness her entrance and her exit? For the tenth time he checked his watch and the nearest wall clock. Perfectly synchronized and still where the hell was she? He had just settled down at his desk with the hot coffee and an open file, when the intercom buzzed. It was his yeoman, Petty Officer Jennifer Coates. "Admiral, Lieutenant Commander Cassidy is here to see you."
He hit the intercom button. "Send her in. And Coates hold my calls and appointments." There was a prompt knock. He responded with the most fearsome "enter" he could manage.
She swung the door closed and snapped to attention. "At ease. Have a seat Lieutenant Commander." He came around the side of his desk and gestured for her to take a seat in front of his desk. He sat in the chair beside her.
Cassidy decided a pre-emptive apology might save her hide, but she couldn't figure out why the Admiral was seated beside her if he was going to reprimand her. Unless, the thought flitted through her head, he had a different suggestion for saving her six. She stamped on the untoward suggestion immediately. He'd been the perfect gentleman. And except for taking her arm and holding open doors, he'd done nothing romantic, suggestive or disturbing. Whatever was coming, she wasn't concerned. He smiled a fleeting, hard smile. It set her teeth on edge and she wondered if she'd got him wrong after all.
"Lieutenant Commander. I have a problem with you." He said finally. "I enjoyed our evening together immensely. I would very much like to see you again socially, but there are ramifications for your career which could be very difficult." He paused then. "Can I assume based on their reactions at lunch today that you didn't share our evening with Colonel Mackenzie or Commander Rabb?"
"No sir. I haven't told anyone other than my sister and brother in law." she said
AJ opened his fists and self consciously laid his hands palm down on his knees. He was quiet another minute and finally met her gaze. She didn't look particularly troubled. "I would very much like to ask you to join me for dinner this evening. You may want to think about that, because whether or not you agree has no bearing on the fact that for the good order and discipline of this office, that I make a rather public show of kicking your six around my desk for the lack of respect you showed this afternoon."
Her expression didn't change. " Just so I understand, sir. I am going to be reprimanded for my remarks at lunch and then you're going to ask me on a date."
"Yes."
"I see. If I said yes in advance, would you alter or cancel the reprimand Sir?"
"I would not". His face was grim and hard.
"Very good, sir."
He stood then and she stood as well stiffly at attention for the time it took him to remind her of all she needed to remember when dealing with a high ranking officer when it came to respect for authority. He questioned her good judgement, her current position and her future in the Navy. And he did it in a tone and with enough volume that he was certain most of it could be heard not just in the outer office, but probably in the parking lot. Admiral Chedwiggen wanted Coates to report not just the tone of the remarks, but some of the adjectives as well.
When AJ finished, he sat heavily into the chair behind his desk and looked at his feet. It was some minutes before he could look at her. She wasn't smiling. Her face was a pale mask. Her eyes were steel.
"You're dismissed Lieutenant Commander."
"Yes sir."
She turned and stepped to the door. Her voice was steady and calm; her hand on the door knob as she said "Can you pick me up at 19:30 AJ?"
He stood silently pushing the chair back and leaning across the desk resting his big hands on the desk. "I've changed my mind." He said. She was silent a long minute. But she didn't move, just looked at him steadily.
Finally she said, "AJ, I got into trouble at work today. Could you buy me dinner someplace quiet and I could tell you about it?"
"I'm older and I know your boss. It isn't against regs, but your career could still suffer."
She opened the door a crack. "With all due respect, Admiral Chedwiggen, I'm a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy; taking risks is what I do. I'll see you at 19:30, sir" she said and quickly stepped into the outer office.
Coates looked at her with troubled eyes; Lieutenant Commander Cassidy kept her face an inscrutable blank.
Harm looked up as she went by. Joey grimaced and winked, but kept on walking.
By some chance, Mac was standing by the elevator when Joey arrived. "How are you doing Lieutenant Commander?"
"Still standing ma'am, but my shin's a little sore."
Mac shook her head and got onto the elevator with her. "I heard about half of what he said."
"Yeah well my ears are still ringing, but I don't think the damage is permanent. He didn't say anything about a transfer to either of the poles. So I got off lightly." she said with a shrug.
"I think so too. Have you got plans tonight? We could go out."
Joey held up her hand. "Nope, hot date tonight."
"You're joking. Between lunch and 15:37 somebody asked you out?" Mac was shaking her head. "On a school night and everything!"
"Yup, life is good "
"So who's the unsuspecting shmuck."
"Careful, ma'am, you're treading on dangerous grounds."
The elevator bumped to a stop and the door rumbled open. Mac shook her head and grinned. "Yeah but who'll help you eat all that ice cream when he dumps you for a teenager or goes back to his wife."
"Low blow Mac."
"Sorry." Mac shifted her briefcase to her other hand, palmed her keys and waved goodbye to Joey.