Chapter 3

Just about forty-five minutes later Vicky removed the icebag from her ankle and then tried to stand. AJ quickly flicked off the TV and got up to help her. "How does it feel?" he asked as she gently tested it with a few steps.

"It seems to be fine," Vicky replied as she sat back down on the couch and reached for her boot. "I think I can get out of your hair now."

With a chuckle, he said, "There isn't much of that to worry about." Holding her coat so she could slip her arms into it, AJ asked, "Will you allow me to give you a call tomorrow to find out how you're doing?"

"I'd like that," she told him with a smile and gave him her phone number.

She started to open the front door when AJ asked her to wait. He stepped into a pair of shoes and grabbed a coat from the closet. "I'm going to walk you out to your car. I don't want you falling and hurting yourself again."

"Now don't you worry, I'm not that clumsy. I'm sure I can get to the car alright alone."

"I really would feel better if you let me walk you to your car Vicky."

Seeing the determined look in his eyes, she said, "Alright AJ that would be nice."

They stepped out the front door and AJ took her arm allowing her free one to be on the side with the handrail. Once they were off the steps, he kept a hold on her arm till they were at the car, then he opened the door for her and made sure she was safely in with her seat belt fastened. He promised to call her the next day to check on her, then closed the door and watched her drive off.

Thursday, December 8, 2005

1200 EST

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

The next day AJ planned to call Vicky after the morning staff meeting and then PO Coates handed him a fist full of phone messages that all needed immediate attention when he got out of the meeting. Then the day turned into a flurry of emergency meetings. It wasn't until lunch that he had a minute to himself to make a personal call.

He headed to Callisto's for lunch, figuring he deserved the treat of his favorite restaurant after the morning he'd had and knowing he was facing an equally insane afternoon. The hostess smiled in recognition of a regular as she seated him. AJ flipped open his cell phone as he waited for his waitress to arrive.

When Vicky answered the phone he said, "Vicky, it's AJ Chegwidden. I want to apologize for not calling earlier, but it's been a crazy morning."

"I understand AJ, we all have those kind of days. I'm just glad to hear from you."

"Well I wanted to check in with you and find out how you were doing. How is your ankle today?"

"It's fine. You took such good care of me last night that it didn't hurt at all when I got up this morning."

"I'm happy to hear that. I was wondering if you'd allow someone you hardly know take you out to dinner?"

Her laugh came across the line as she replied, "Well I've let people fix me up on blind dates before so I think I know you better than that."

"So that's a 'yes'?" he asked with a laugh of his own.

"Yes, that's a 'yes'," she told him happily.

"Wonderful! I would ask you for this evening, but with the day I'm having I know it will be way past any normal dinner hour before I can leave the office. Then again, maybe I shouldn't assume that you'd be free on such short notice."

"I usually don't have dates in the middle of the week so this evening would be fine, and I don't mind eating late if that's what you'd like to do."

"Normally I would be very happy to do that, but with the meetings I have lined up for the rest of the day, I know I won't be good company tonight. Would you be free tomorrow evening?"

"Actually I just recently moved to the area so I don't really know many people here yet. I'm free most evenings, so tomorrow would be fine."

To be continued…..