AG LAWYERS
Chapter 8 - San Diego Dreaming And What Follows
The time in San Diego is filled with fun and mutual enjoyment for their little trio. Kate is thrilled at sharing time with her two NROTC classmates, but she is particularly pleased to share time with Rick outside of their work. She wonders if her new posting to Castle's JAG Team will once again result in a platonic relationship with him. One that is characterized with unrequited desire and unresolved sexual tension. Then again she recalls how it had ended for them after their Commissioning. She longs to have them repeat that night. Is it an unrealistic hope? Will the future reveal a resolution for them? Kate always had a thing for Rick and he for her. Had they lost all that? What was in store for them now under these new circumstances? Kate could only wonder.
Kate is truly enjoying her day and is thankful to Lanie for encouraging them to explore San Diego with her. Kate has been to San Diego before, but never really had time to take in the sites, like Pacific Beach, a well known gathering place in the area. At one point in their excursion of PB, Rick had grabbed her hand, as they walked the 3 mile Boardwalk located there. The Boardwalk being a popular tourist site and favorite hangout place of San Diegans. Lanie catches them holding hands, a PDA she is pleased with. All during NROTC, Lanie had tried her best to encourage the two of them to get together as a couple. It never did quite happen, so now Lanie is trying again. She knows both need to take those small steps that lead to a larger relationship. Lanie hopes this is the start of a rekindling of those feelings both had held onto for so long. Except for that one night, both had never been close to becoming a couple.
After touring San Diego, the three head back to Camp Pendleton, just as it started to get dark. They stop by MCAS Miramar to fuel up at the base gas station. They returned to Marine Base Camp Pendleton just in time for dinner. The galley was just about to close as they got there.
To their delight, the chow that night was Sirloin Steak with all the fixings. The best part was that it cost them just $5.50 each. Base personnel pay their mess bill a month in advance and then get issued a Meal Pass, which they show to the cashier. All others pay cash, but that is their 'co-pay', so to speak, as the Navy and Marine Corps supplement costs of meals for their various bases.
"All in all, a fine Navy day!", says Castle as they start their evening meal.
"I'll toast to that", replies Lanie as they all take their drink glasses and click them together.
Later after dinner they are back to the lounge of the BOQ. They are talking about old times and about NROTC days. Lanie had gone to her room for a brief moment to get something, she returns with an old worn out Kodak envelope of old photos.
"These were also in the secret compartment of my cruise box", she says handing the envelope to Kate.
"Actual photos, wow that's a step back in time!", Castle tells them.
"Well, if you recall the phone camera was not as advanced as they are now, so many people were still using an old school camera. But if I recall, these are prints taken off one of our classmate's phone camera. The Media Centers back then were just coming out where one could download phone pic files and have them printed out", Lanie responds back to Rick.
They go thru the pictures.
"This is what's his face, he had a big crush on you", says Lanie showing the pics to Kate as Castle also catches a glimpse.
"Brent Edwards", remembers Lanie, "oh he had such a thing for you Kate. How many times did he ask for a date and you kept putting him off?"
"I stopped counting at a dozen, he never did quite get the message."
"Persistent, wasn't he?", remarks Castle.
"I think half the guys in the unit were interested and you turned them all away."
"Yeah I did."
"And why was that?", asks Lanie.
"I became Brigade Commander and before that Company Commander of Delta Company. I was senior in Rank to most of them and in a leadership position, would not have been very appropriate."
"Or was there another reason", insinuates Lanie. They had many a 'girl talk' about Rick back then, but no one was privy to this but the two of them.
Kate glares at Lanie with a look that tells her college BFF not to reveal any further info. So Lanie in turn jumps to Rick with a question.
"And you Rick never asked Kate out at all during that time."
"We were both in leadership roles. If you recall, when Kate become Brigade Commander I was her vice, and prior to that, I was Company Commander of Charlie Company. It would not have been appropriate and sets a bad example. I'm sure had Kate and I dated back then it would have ended badly. Remember Joan Sullivan and Paul Crenshaw, both got caught making out on watch duty when we did our summer cruise. They both got a Captain's Mast for it and had two months pay docked. Which for a student was devastating. They were counting pennies and having only breakfast and dinner for a while trying to make their funds stretch after they lost a portion of midshipmen pay. Fortunately they were not in leadership positions as they could have been stripped of that as well for punishment. Fraternization has consequences! More so now that we are on active duty and no longer just NROTC Midshipmen", Rick says, giving reasons as to why he'd kept away from getting involved with Kate back then.
"And yet there was that one night after we graduated."
"Lanie!", Rick and Kate let out in unison.
"Don't go there Lanie", warns Rick.
"Okay, your secret's safe with me but just saying, the unresolved sexual tension here is so thick you could cut it with a knife."
They both ignore Lanie's comment. Theirs is an uneasy pause, until Kate breaks it.
"I think I will head up to my room and turn in", says Kate.
"I'm gonna do the same", says Rick.
They both head for the elevator, but just as they leave, Lanie says, "OK, be like that. So sleep well you two, but not with each other."
That causes the two of them to stop, turn back facing Lanie with a glare. Then the two of them continue for the elevator. They take the same elevator up as they are both on the fourth floor.
Once in the elevator, it is an awkward silence which again Kate breaks.
"Do you think of that night, Rick?"
"All the time."
"Same here."
They remain silent until the elevator stops at their floor and both get out. They head to their rooms. Kate's room comes first and Rick sees her to the door. They stop in front of it. There is another long pause, Kate is waiting for Rick to make a move, perhaps to ask to be invited into her room, but he does not.
"Have a good night's rest, Kate", but it is said with Rick trying not to choke on his words.
"Same to you, Rick", she replies but with disappointment in her voice.
Once in her room, Kate closes the door, and then leans back against it, thinking about what just happened. Just seconds later, Rick is in his room also leaning with his back against his door, pondering like Kate on just what had gone on between them.
Lanie The Matchmaker
Lanie had watched as her two friends left her to go to their rooms. Never had two people desired each other so much and yet fought so hard to deny it. If only it had just been a mutual one time thing with them, but it was not. After that one night, they should have scratched their itch and resolved the tension created all thru college. But that had not happened. Both of them wanted so much something more but were afraid to reach for it. All through college, Kate and her had shared many a night together in Girl Talks about Rick. Lanie knew it was serious with Kate, and intuitively, she felt it was the same for Rick.
Lanie on many occasions had tried to push the two together. Although there had not been any 'dates' between the two, there was many a time when the three of them had gone out as a trio, just like their San Diego trip earlier that day. Lanie recalls the many times they saw a movie together, or did a study group at the library, shared a lunch or a dinner, and just plain hung out together. Lanie had to endure the longing looks each gave the other. At times Lanie found herself rushing to the Ladies Room to wash her face with cold water, the tension she felt from both of them so palpable. How could the two of them not see what they had? Her two friends were totally clueless as to what was happening between them. Rick and Kate, thy names be 'denial'. Then again, what could Lanie do in the span of the JAG Investigation to get the two together, maybe it was a lost cause?
Then inspiration came to Lane…..Josh Davidson! Maybe she was pushing Kate to the wrong man. What if she encouraged Kate with Josh. That might cause Rick to see Green and make a move for Kate. Or, maybe Kate sees that Josh is not the one and Rick is her guy! But wait… then again…what if Josh and Kate become a couple. What then? Not a bad outcome, Josh was a catch and if Kate could not get Rick to make a move, Josh was a fine Plan B. At least then Kate would not be alone, she would have Josh as a significant other.
Still what would happen to Rick? If Josh and Kate become a couple will that turn Rick into an old and aging confirmed bachelor? Could Lanie do that to Rick? Castle was also her friend. Lanie really had to think this thru. She wanted both her friends to be happy, preferably with each other, but if it is not meant to be, then she would be glad to see them happy with others. So what to do with Rick if Josh-Kate happened? What was the Plan B for Rick? Lanie's head was hurting now from all she was thinking about for her two friends.
Sometimes it is best to just let things lay and see if something pops. She may not have a solution to her Rick problem, but maybe just letting it be for now would rest her mind and she might get another inspiration. So Lanie heads off to her room hoping that the Universe will give her an idea.
Lanie would continue to be the two's best match maker. They were right for each other and just needed a push. Lanie was betting on that push being one Dr. Josh Davidson. If it did not turn out like Lanie wanted, at least Kate would have a Plan B, and if that failed, then at least Kate will have had a man in her life for a while. She was depressed by the thought her two friends could wind up as solitary people in their old age. Lanie wanted only that two of her best college friends be happy, hopefully together as a couple. She falls asleep knowing she had things to do while the JAG investigation progressed. So little time and lots of things she needed to put in play.