Title:  The Blind Date

Disclaimers: I don't own JAG or anything or these characters 

Summary: A little story that takes place after The Mission.  Author's note:  This was found floating around my hard drive.  Who knows when I first wrote it!  So I polished it up and decided to post it.

Category: Romance Rating: R

Feedback to astridz55@earthlink.net

“Are you really going to be leaving us, Sir?” asked Harriet.

“Yes, Lt. Simms,” AJ said with a fond smile. “I won’t be leaving the area though so I’m sure that I’ll still see you often.”

“I know, Sir. I just really didn’t think that you would really be retiring when you mentioned about coaching baseball.”

“I know, Lieutenant but I do think it’s time. I’ve been thinking about this for a while.”

“You know we all wish you the best, I just know we are going to miss you.”

“Here at the office only. And who knows, I might just work some cases with JAG.”

“That’s good news, Sir. I know you aren’t too fond of parties but will you let me throw you one?”

“As long as it’s nothing too much.”

“I promise, Sir. Just some of us from here at HQ.”

“Alright. Let me know if you need anything with it.”

“I will, Sir,” she smiled. She soon walked of his office and son began planning.

One Week later

Harriet cautiously knocked on the Admiral’s door, opening it when she heard him give permission to enter.

“Admiral, I had a question for you.”

“About the party?”

“Not exactly,” she said nervously. “I have this friend and she’s been feeling down lately.”

“If you want to invite her too, that’s fine,” he said.

“Actually, Sir, I was wondering if you would take her out on a date.”

“You’re trying to set me up on a blind date?” he asked amazed.

“Not exactly. She a really good friend of mine and she’s been upset about something happening at work lately. She isn’t seeing anyone and I didn’t think you were either.”

“I’m not but it still sounds like a blind date,” he said slightly amused.

“I’m sorry, Sir. Please forget I said anything about it.” She turned and walked to the door.

“Harriet,” he said with some reluctance. “Tell me more about your friend.”

The day after the Admiral’s retirement

AJ got to Callisto’s a bit early and settled into his table, he ordered a drink and waited for his date. He really wasn’t pleased that Harriet had set the date up the day after his retirement, he had wanted a little time to himself that weekend. Harriet had told him that his date would arrive exactly on time and she would be wearing a green dress. She would introduce herself to the hostess and she would be lead to his table. Harriet had described her friend as beautiful, smart, and very kind. AJ was a bit worried that she would be far too young for him but he tried to not let that bother him too much. He was wondering how Harriet had described him to her friend when he looked up and saw Mac walk in. He wondered idly who she was there to met.

“He is one lucky man,” AJ spoke softly to himself as Mac spoke to the hostess. AJ watched as the hostess led Mac in his direction, stopping at his table. He stood when she walked up.

“Admiral? What are you doing here tonight?” she asked surprised to see him.

“Harriet set me up on a blind date,” he said ruefully not sure why she was still standing at his table.

“Same here,” she said beginning to remove her coat. He moved to help her and suddenly noticed what she was wearing. A low cut green dress. He stopped short then suddenly thought ‘I’m the lucky man!’ and he broke into a grin.

“I think we’ve been had, Colonel,” he said. “When I get my hands on Harriet.” He pulled out her chair for her. His voice dropped to a whisper as he helped her with her chair. “They are at the table behind us by the way. I just saw Bud. Want to have some fun with them?”

She nodded as they sit down and looked at their menus, and ordered appetizers and a tonic and lime for Mac.

“Harriet was exactly right in her description of you, Sir.”

“As of yesterday I am retired, so now it’s AJ. How did she describe me or should I ask?”

“Tall, handsome, a teddy bear under the gruff exterior,” she said with a smile.

“She called me a teddy bear?”

Mac smiled, “I should have known it was you. That is exactly how you are. I’ve seen the teddy bear peak out every now and again.”

“Don’t let that news get out. So you think I’m handsome?” he couldn’t resist asking.

“And here I guessed that the comment Chloe made about the sexy admiral would have given that away”

“Sweet kid. Smart too. How’s she doing by the way?” he asked with a smile.

“Pretty good. She’ll be coming out her to spend some of her summer vacation with me.”

“Stop by with her sometime, maybe we can go on a ride together.”

“You ride horses, Sir?” she asked surprised.

“Yes I do. There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me, Sarah,” he said intensely.

“How did Harriet describe me?” she asked trying to change the subject unsure what was happening tonight.

“Beautiful, smart and very kind woman. And she said you would be exactly on time. I should have known it was you.”

“How could you have known that?”

“What do you not look in mirrors?” She blushed. “Why look at that, the marine blushes! Trust me I noticed. I have for years but obviously I couldn’t say anything so I tried to just not think of you as a woman, an especially beautiful woman.” He said while reaching for her hand. “But I know I didn’t always do too good of a job at that. Of course, Chloe’s comment made start thinking about you even more. But to be honest, I guess I thought that you and Harm would get together. I never thought that I stood a chance.”

“I do love Harm, but not in a romantic way. He thought he was in love with me for a while but you know how fickle he is.”

“Stupid man,” he mumbled as the waiter walked up and asked for their order.

They both enjoyed their dinner, and the company of the other. Both of them were a little unsure, at first, how much being said was real and how much was for the benefit of Bud and Harriet. After the food arrived though, they had both forgotten all about the Robert’s being there. Just before dessert, AJ spotted Harriet walking back from the restroom. AJ reached across the table and took Mac’s hand in his and mouthed Harriet’s name.

At that moment the waiter arrived and asked if they would be interested in dessert. They both declined and as the waiter left to get the check, Mac invited AJ to her apartment for coffee, which he accepted. They spoke a little longer, paid the check then AJ stood to help Mac up and help her with her coat.

“You’re a very good actor, Sir,” she said quietly.

“AJ. And who said I was acting?” he asked as he helped her on with her coat, and he gave her neck a light brush with his lips. When she turned around and looked into his eyes his admiral face was back on so she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

Mac’s apartment

“Sir…”

“AJ. Please, Sarah.”

“Sorry it will take me a while to get used to that. AJ. You seem to call me Sarah easily enough,” she said as she locked the door behind them.

“I’ve thought of you as Sarah for a long time.” He smiled, “Here let me take your coat.”

“Always such a gentleman,” she said with a smile.

“Does that surprise you?”

“No but a lot of things about you surprised me tonight.”

“Like what?”

“Well, the ‘I’m not acting’ comment for one,” she said.

“Let’s have a seat and talk. Nothing I said tonight was a lie, Sarah. I just thought I would try to open up more and actually be myself for once. Were the things you said about Harm the truth?”

“Yes. He will always be a part of my life but he’ll never have my heart. He seems to break them too easily. Mine’s been broken enough,” she said with a sad smile.

“Oh, Sarah. I’m sorry.” He placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. “You know the only reason I agreed to the blind date was by thinking that I would meet someone to help me forget the woman I’ve had feelings for for quite some time.” Something flickered in her eyes that he couldn’t describe. It was almost like what he said had hurt her.

“I think I was thinking about trying the same thing. But it didn’t help me. Did it help you?” she asked with a smile.

“Not when that same woman walked in the door tonight wearing a low cut green dress, Sarah,” he said with a husky voice, while fingering the edge of her dress.

“AJ?”

“You have to have known I had feelings for you, Sarah. I know I sent out mixed signals sometimes but being your CO I couldn’t say anything, but sometimes I couldn’t help myself.”

“But you aren’t my CO any more,” she said with a half smile.

“I know. That’s why I’m going to kiss you,” he whispered just before he kissed her.

“Oh my. How could I have ever thought you were gruff, AJ? You are a teddy bear,” she said with a smile.

“I had to be stern so I wouldn’t show you how I felt about you, but you seemed to enjoy my occasional blunders. Chloe’s comment certainly being one of the best. Sarah, do you really think I’m sexy?” He asked cautiously.

“Yes, who wouldn’t?” she said not looking at him, not wanting him to see her blush.

“You don’t think of me as old?”

“You should know some things just get better with age. Well you know, I went on the date to forget about someone. Right?” He nodded. “I was trying to forget the fact that a certain person was retiring and I didn’t know how to handle that, AJ.”

“You mean…”

“Ever since I met you, AJ, I thought about you, but I knew we couldn’t pursue it. When you told us you were going to retire, my first thought was that maybe now it could work out. But then I got sad because I knew I wouldn’t be able to see you everyday any more and that you probably never thought of me that way in the first place.”

“That’s what Harriet was talking about then.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“She said her friend had been upset about something at work.”

“I was hoping that she hadn’t say anything about that.”

“I know why she did. She knows that if she didn’t I never would have agreed to it.”

“Well, I’m glad you did.”

“Me too,” he said as he leaned down and lightly kissed her. He broke the kiss, looking at her intently before he kissed her again with more passion.

Finally, they both pulled back to catch their breath.

“So, AJ, have you ever had a blind date turn out like this before?”

“No, but then again, it’s been a long time since any date turned out this good,” he said as he slipped his hands under her before picking her up to carry her into the bedroom.