Chapter 6

AJ looked deeply into Mac's eyes and shuddered. It seemed to take a very long time for him to answer her, but it was actually less than a minute before he said, "I would hope that if I'd had the proper training for the job, that I would be able to find another way to deal with the situation because I know that whatever the outcome, it would be impossible to live with!"

"As President you'll have to make life and death decisions from time to time, will you be able to live with those?"

"The decisions seem easier when there are thousands or millions of lives in the balance, than just one or two. I know that may seem odd…"

"Not really, many times if only one or two are involved, you know one or both of them. The larger the number involved, the less personal it is."

"Yes, exactly!" he agreed. "But how in the world did we get on such a heavy and serious subject while on a date?"

"I guess the date part is what started it all," she answered.

"Questioning me about Turlock's death has something to do with our date?" AJ inquired, perplexed.

"No, before that when I was asking about you becoming President. I was wondering why you wanted to date me knowing that in two weeks we'll be back on Earth and you'll take up your duties. Or is that it? This is just a two week fling?"

"I know we've only just met and you have no way of knowing that what you're suggesting is something I would never do…I liked you from the first, your humor was so refreshing and honest. I don't know where this could lead, or if two weeks will even be enough to find out, I only know that I'd regret not finding out."

"Oh," she said softly. His answer hadn't been what she'd been expecting at all, but she liked it and was also eager to see where this could lead.

That evening as AJ and Sarah were returning from their tour of the ship, Bud was already asleep, having another one of his crazy dreams.

He was in the bullpen and Commander Rabb was standing next to him at the copy machine when Clayton Webb entered the room. Webb headed straight across the room clearly on his way to the Admiral's office. He only made it halfway when Harm waylaid him. "What are you doing here Webb?"

"That's need to know Harm and you don't!" Webb declared as he tried to maneuver around the taller man.

"I know whenever you show up there's trouble! Who are you trying to shanghai this time?"

"Not you, so no need to get your panties in a bunch!" Webb snorted.

Bud, who couldn't help but overhear the conversation from where he was standing, tried to stifle his chuckle at that comment.

Before Commander Rabb could respond the Admiral came out of his office obviously on his way to the break room for coffee. The empty mug in his hand told the story. "Webb what are you doing here?' he growled.

"I need to borrow one of your people, AJ."

"I'd feel better about that if you brought them back in the same condition you borrowed them in!" he grumbled and led the CIA agent into his office, the coffee obviously forgotten.

Rabb rejoined Bud at the copy machine and said, "I wonder what he's up to this time!"

"You really don't like Mr. Webb, do you Sir?" Bud asked.

"It's not whether I like him or not, it's that I don't trust him! Someone whose job depends on deception and secrets, doesn't inspire trust and when you're in a life and death situation you need to be able to depend on your partner."

A few minutes later, Harm's expression turned grim when Colonel Mackenzie was summoned into the Admiral's office. Bud and Harm were just finishing their conversation about the case they were working on, when the Colonel and Mr. Webb came out together and headed for the elevator.

Harm got in front of them to stop their progress and demanded, "Where do you think you're going with my partner Webb?!"

"There's no thinking about it Rabb! I know where we're going," Clay told him and put his arm around Mac's waist to move her past Harm.

"Mac where are you going?" he called after them.

"You know how these things are Harm. I can't tell you, but I shouldn't be gone long and will tell you all about it when I get back."

"The parts that aren't top secret!" Clay reminded her.

"Yes, those parts," she called back to Harm as the two of them stepped into the elevator and disappeared.

"That mission went from bad to worse!" Bud told Counselor Sims the next morning at their first meeting.

To be continued…..