Chapter 5

"Damn it! Me and my big mouth! Sir, can't we just pretend that you were out of earshot before you heard that?" Jen begged.

"No, Petty Officer, we can't. Get in my office, NOW! You have some explaining to do then I have another long talk as soon as we are finished," he said dreading the long day ahead.

"Sir, this really is a private matter..." she said not following him into his office but remaining close to her desk.

"Not if regulations have been broken, Petty Officer. Now Jen get in my office or I'll call a guard and charge you right this minute," he ordered.

She walked into his office like she was going before a firing squad. Once inside she turned and said to him, "Sir, you would never have had to know about this if I hadn't been a bit late, it was just a one night thing and nothing more will ever come of it I swear to you!"

"If I have an officer sleeping with people that would be under his command than I have a problem," he said wearily. "Who is it, Jen? Don't make me ask twice."

"Sir, what if I choose not to say?"

"You said ward, Jen. Would this be Harm?" he asked angrily.

"Sir, I prefer not to say, Sir!" she exclaimed hiding her eyes.

"Then I will just call Commander Rabb into my office and ask him. You may be excused for now Petty Officer, but don't go too far. Have Commander Rabb in my office, ASAP!" AJ ordered in a brisk tone.

"No, Sir!" she stood her ground glaring back at him defiantly.

"Jen, you're boarding on insubordination. Don't make me go after him myself. I don't think he will appreciate your noble efforts on his behalf," AJ advised.

"Sir, please! It was a one night thing, when he thought he was going to loose Mattie to the foster parents, I'm not even sure that he remembers it happened! Please let this go! If I'm not pregnant then there is no need to ever bring it up!"

"Jen, I need to talk to him. If I didn't I wouldn't even have mentioned it, I would have just keep on walking. Now are you going to get him or am I?" he asked sternly.

"Please, Sir! Please, don't! He has enough on his plate right now, thinking that Mattie might be pregnant!" tears were slowly sliding down her face.

"I'm sorry, Jen, but the Commander had a lot to answer for, and after all, while I am concerned that Mattie might be in trouble she isn't under my command and there is nothing I can do about her situation. The Commander, however, is my concern!" he said standing and walking to the door. "Do you want to be here when I get back with him?"

"No, Sir, I'm not even sure I want to work for you anymore!" she sighed and walked out of the office to sit down at her desk and consider writing a request for transfer.

AJ walked down to the Commander's office and walked in. Harm jumped to attention, "Sir, did you need me for something?"

"Yes, Commander, I'm afraid I do," he replied shutting the door. "At ease, and you might as well take a seat. Commander is it true that you have been having intercourse with someone in this office? And that that person could possible be pregnant?" AJ asked frustrated that it should finally come down to this.

"Sir, uh…yes, Sir, but I indeed to marry her!" replied Harm embarrassed the news had reached the
Admiral before he could talk to him.

"That is still inappropriate, Commander, and don't you think she is a little young for you?" asked AJ in shock.

"No, Sir, Mac is only five years younger than I am. We had been planning on coming to you just as soon as we knew for sure she was pregnant," explained Harm.

"MAC! What about Petty Officer Coates? How many women have you been sleeping with, Commander? Do you know how many children you have running around in the world?" shouted AJ.

"Jen? No, Sir, she's not pregnant. Mattie may be, but not Jen. Mac is, and I proposed to her, but she is thinking about her answer," replied a panic filled Harm.

"Jen may be, Mac is, and Mattie may be, and learn to keep them straight, Commander. That is where you get in trouble. Right now there will be charges filed against you, so you can tell Mac that she will be in a three way criminal case," AJ growled slamming the door as he left.

To be continued…..