Chapter 39

Major General Sarah Chegwidden arrived at JAG Headquarters that morning and thought how it felt like coming home, especially since she was tooling through the guard gate in a cherry-red Vette. She loved her early Christmas present. She was used to AJ's thoughtfulness and consideration, but she had no idea he was going to do something like this! A giggle escaped her lips as she remembered the look on his face when she told him how she planned on thanking him that evening.

Their sex life had always been a healthy and active one, and even though AJ had turned seventy over the summer, the two of them still jogged together three times a week. Many times they had several of the children running with them. Evan had always loved going for walks from the first day he'd arrived in their home at the age of three, and quickly became an avid runner. He was the one that accompanied his adoptive parents any chance he could.

Shaking off thoughts of home, she grabbed her briefcase and cover. After locking her brand new car, she headed into the building. Stepping off the elevator into the dimly lit bullpen, she paused a moment letting the memories wash over her. It had been ten years since she'd been there, but very little had changed. The desks were rearranged and she was sure the place had been painted even if it still was the same uninspiring white.

With a sigh she crossed the still empty bullpen and entered the break room to start a pot of coffee. Here she found changes, the old brown cupboards had been replaced with open faced white shelves, and there was a larger fridge as well as a new microwave. But most important was the large coffee maker sitting there on the counter ready for someone to start the first pot of the day. A smile teased her lips as she made it to her taste. She wondered if there was anyone in the office these days that liked it as strong as she did. Only AJ had in the old days.

Pouring a large mug full, she made her way to her office. Mac wondered if she could get AJ to drop by one day, they could lock the door and fulfill some of the fantasies she'd had of the two of them and that great big desk!

Thirty minutes later she heard movement in the outer office and went out to see who had arrived. The Petty Officer jumped a foot when the door opened. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you Petty Officer," Mac smiled at the young man who stood there with his hand over his heart gasping. 'He'd have been dead if I was the enemy!' she thought, trying not to giggle at his discomfort.

"Oh General! I had no idea you were already here! I was told you liked to come in early so I thought if I was here at 0730 I'd be here to greet you when you arrived."

"Don't sweat it Petty Officer…" she paused for him to fill in his name.

"Miller, Ma'am…Peter Miller."

"Alright Miller, I usually will be here at 0700, but unless something major is going on there's no need for you to be here that early."

"Thank you, Ma'am!" he was clearly relieved to hear that. "I also made a fresh pot of coffee if you'd like some. Someone left the pot brewing overnight it seems from the sludge I found in it this morning!"

Mac couldn't control her laughter and was just about to correct the younger man when a voice from the past beat her to the punch. "Miller, you just poured out the General's coffee!"

Spinning on her heel, Mac saw AJ's first yeoman when he arrived at JAG. "TINER!" she exclaimed and forgetting or just plain ignoring protocol, she reached out and hugged him. With a happy laugh he returned her embrace.

Miller stood there looking shocked, trying to recover; he stuttered out, "I'm sorry about the coffee, Ma'am! I didn't think anyone drank it that strong on purpose!"

"It's alright, Miller," Mac replied, backing up just a bit from Jason Tiner. "I think it might be a good idea if I brought in a small pot of my own. It might be my only chance not to keep getting it dumped." Turning back to the rooms other occupant, she said, "You're looking great Tiner! And a Commander now too! Congratulations!"

"Not only that, I'm you're Chief of Staff too, as long as you have no objections," he answered her, standing taller and straighter as he said it.

To be continued….