Shampoo, Razors and Nighties

Category: AJ/Mac Romance

Rating PG-13

Spoilers: None

Feedback: please send to astridz55@earthlink.net

Disclaimers: These characters do not belong to me. 

This was my submission for the 2004 Chaz Awards.  It was in a three way tie for second place.  Of course, there were only four stories in that category but still, it was second place!  LOL! 





Thursday evening

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, VA



"Always work this late, Mac?"



"Hi, Clay.  What do you need?" she said looking up to see him leaning against her door.



"I just thought I would check and see how AJ is."



"He left suddenly this afternoon.  No one knows why.  He didn't explain."



"He called me this morning and said he needed a plane to Italy.  It seems Francesca was in an accident."



"Oh, no.  Is she going to be ok?" Mac asked concerned.



"I don't know.  All he said was that he had to get to Italy ASAP.  The earliest flight was going out late in the evening and he didn't want to wait that long.  I thought he would tell you."



"No, he didn't say anything."



"All I know right now is he went to Naples."  He handed her a piece of paper with the name of a hospital on it.  "This is where she is, apparently, but they won't tell me anything.  Maybe they will tell you."



She picked up the phone and dialed.  The people at the front desk spoke little English so Mac was unable to get any information. Mac paused for a moment, unsure what to do, but the decision wasn't that hard.  She wanted to be there for the Admiral if he needed anything, like the many times he was there for her. 



"If you find out anything or need anything give me a call," Clay said.



"Wait up, Clay."  She picked up the phone again and called Harm.  "Hey Harm.  I was just calling to let you know I need to take the next few days off."



"What's up?" he asked.



"A friend needs my help."



"Anything I can do?"



"No, I don't think so.  But thanks for asking.  I'll call if I need anything."



"Okay, Mac.  See you on Monday?"



"Thanks, Harm.  Bye."  Mac hung up the phone.  Clay looked at her with curiosity.  "He's always there for me when I need him Clay.  It's time I was there for him."  Clay simply nodded.  He picked up his cell phone and called the airline to see when the next plane to Naples was leaving while Mac tidied up her office and grabbed her jacket.  By the time they left her office she had a ticket waiting for her at the gate, takeoff in a couple of hours.  "Can you drive me to the airport?  I don't want to leave my car there."



"Of course."



"Good, follow me."





Naples, Italy



Hours later, Mac walked off the plane and was surprised to see a man standing with her name on a card. "I'm Sarah MacKenzie."  He handed her a phone after he hit the send key.   She waited while the phone rang then Clay picked up the phone.  "Mac.  How was the flight?"



"Fine.  I slept most of the way."



"Good.  The man waiting with you is Guiseppe, your driver he'll take you to your hotel so you can drop off your bags then to the hospital."



"Clay that's not necessary.  I can take a cab."



"Oh and how much Italian do you speak?"



She took a deep breath and said, "Point taken."



"Good.  Call me when you have some news.  She is in room 315 by the way."



"Ok.  Thanks again, Clay."



"Like I said before, Mac, not a problem.  Talk to you later."  He hung up the phone.  After a stop at her hotel and quick change of clothes Mac was back in the car headed to the hospital.  She took a small bag of AJ's clothes with her as she walked up to Room 315.  



"Excuse me, you can't go in there.  Family only."  Mac nodded then noticed that the nurse had gone the other way, she hurriedly slipped in the room. 



Mac saw Francesca lying on the bed surrounded by lots of beeping monitors.  Then she saw the Admiral.  He was sitting in a chair beside his daughter with a completely lost look on his face.  He looked like he had aged quite a bit in the past 24 hours.  She quietly set down his bag and walked over to him.  She reached out and touched his shoulder.  He looked up at her in surprise and the compassion in her eyes was his undoing. 



AJ reached out for her and wrapping his arms around her waist pulled her close.  He rested his head on her stomach and tried to control his tears.  When she reached down and tenderly stroked his head his tears started.  She just stood there and let him cry as she shed some tears of her own. 



"I can't lose her, Sarah.  She's all I have."  Mac just stood there for a while holding him. 



The tears stopped abruptly when they both heard a softly spoken, "Papa?"  Mac saw that Francesca's eyes were open and AJ pulled back and went to his daughter's side. 



"Francesca.  I thought I had lost you." 



Mac slipped out the door to find a doctor then slipped back into the room.  The doctor rushed in, saw Mac and asked in Italian as he began examining Francesca, "What are you doing in here?  Are you family?"



"Yes, she is," the Admiral said in Italian.



"Well, family or not I need some privacy to examine my patient if you don't mind, sir," the doctor said politely in English.  "Why don't you go and freshen up?  You can use the doctors lounge."



AJ nodded and took the bag that Mac handed to him.  He went into the doctor's lounge to freshen up and change clothes.  He thought about the fact that Mac seemed to be able to read his mind by bringing him some of his favorite clothes. 



AJ walked out to see Mac holding two cups of coffee.  "The doctor wants to talk to you." 



AJ went into the room and gave his daughter a quick kiss on the forehead.  "Papa, where did you get the clothes?"



"Sarah brought them.  So what's the story, doctor?"  AJ reached his hand out to Mac, which she took.



"As you know she has some minor lacerations and some fractures.  The worst thing is her back.  There is no evidence of separation of the spinal cord but she did break a vertebra.  If you can't really feel much right now it is because of the swelling.  It should go down in a couple of days." 



"So, I'll be fine?"



"Yes.  You have to let your body heal first, but in time you will be just fine.  Now Francesca, there is one thing I would like you to do."



"What's that?" she asked.



"Convince your father to get some rest.  I have enough patients.  I don't need anymore."



"May I talk to my daughter in private before you kick me out though?"



"Of course."  The doctor and Mac walked out of the room.  Mac handed the doctor the number to the cell phone Clay had given her.



"If there are any changes at all, give us a call.  Or if she needs anything." 



"Papa, it sure was nice of Sarah to come with you."



"Actually, I left in such a hurry I didn't tell anyone.  I don't know how she found out."



"Well then I would ask her if I were you.  Go find a hotel Papa.  Get some sleep and some food.  I'll be fine.  I promise."



"I'll give the doctor a number we can be reached at.  If you need anything just call, ok?" he insisted.



"Ok, Papa.  I love you."



"I love you too, Francesca."



"Now go and let me sleep," she said with a smile as he kissed her on the cheek before he slipped out the door to find the doctor.



"Once I get to a hotel, I'll call to let you know how to reach me."



"Sarah already gave me the number.  You just go back to the hotel and rest." 



Sarah and AJ rode the elevator down to the first floor and they went out the main entrance.  In just a few moments a car pulled up and Guiseppe climbed out.  AJ looked at Mac and raised one eyebrow.  "This is Guiseppe our driver."  They got in the back of the car and drove in silence.  He closed his eyes for a moment, but before AJ realized it Mac was shaking him awake.  They walked up to their suite at the hotel and Mac was happy to find that room service had dropped off some food.  They both picked at the food while Mac explained how she got there.  He laughed when she told him about going to his house and making Clay break into it to get his clothes. 



"I wish I could have seen the look on his face," he said as they both ate their fill. 



"Hold up.  What day is this Sarah?" he asked as they went over and sat on the couch.


"I think it's early Friday." Before he could ask about work she continued, "I told Harm a friend needed my help."



"Francesca is lucky to have a friend like you," he said without making eye contact.



"I would be glad to do whatever I could to help Francesca but I wasn't talking about her," Mac said meeting his eyes.



"You came for me?"  She nodded.  "Why, Sarah?"



"Because you have always been there for me.  I wanted to be there for you."



"You always have been, Sarah."  He fell quiet for a moment then continued, "I don't think I can ever tell you how much you being here means.  I was so scared.  I know I've never been much of a father to her but I just can't lose her.  She's all I have except for you, Rabb and the Roberts," AJ said breaking eye contact.



"You aren't going to lose her, AJ.  She's a strong person, just like her father." She reached out to touch his shoulder.  He took her hand in his and held tightly.



"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, Sarah."



"How?" she asked totally confused.



"SeAL's aren't supposed to cry." He couldn't meet her eyes until she gently reached out and touched his cheek.



"Maybe not, but fathers can." He gathered her in his arms and simply held her. 



"Thank you, Sarah."  He kissed the top of her head then fell asleep.  Mac was surprised that he was holding her but she wasn't going to complain.  She had wanted to be in his arms for a long time.



They woke up hours later to the phone ringing.  They were both somewhat surprised that they had their arms around each other still.  Mac grabbed the phone and answered it.  "Hello?"



"Mac.  It's Clay.  How are things going?"



Mac looked at AJ and said, "It's Webb." She could feel him relax.



"Francesca was in a car accident but she is awake and alert now.  She has several fractures and lots of bruises but she'll be fine."



"Thank God."



"The worst injury was a broken vertebrae but there was no spinal injury."



"That's good news.  Do you know when you might be back?"



"Harm is expecting me back on Monday.  So I will probably fly back Sunday."



"What about AJ?"  Mac turned to look at AJ.



"Do you when you'll be headed back?"



"Now that I know she's going to be okay, I'll probably go back on Sunday too.  Maybe I can convince her to come home for a long visit when she can fly."



"He'll be coming back with me."



"You can take my plane and tell him that I'll send the plane back for Francesca when she is ready for her visit." 



"He'll send his plane back for Francesca when she wants to come."  AJ took the phone, "Webb that's not necessary."



"It's the least I can do.  You know very well that she will be more comfortable on a private plane than a commercial jet.  I know I haven't been the nicest to you all at JAG but at least let me do this for you."



"Ok.  And Webb, thank you."  AJ hung up the phone.  "Sometimes he surprises me."



"I guess he can be human after all."  She took the phone from AJ and called the hospital, when she once again got the non-English speaking receptionist she handed the phone to AJ.  AJ finally got a hold of the doctor and was told that Francesca was resting peacefully.  He was also told that Francesca was already regaining some of the feeling in her legs.  AJ asked when she might be able to make the trip to America he was pleased when the doctor said within two weeks the way she is going.  The doctor hung up the phone saying that he didn't want to see either him or Sarah until that afternoon, late that afternoon. 



"She's still asleep.  The doctor doesn't want to see us till the afternoon.  How about breakfast?   There's this great little Italian place I know of."



She couldn't help but laugh.  "I'll go take a shower and change."  She came back out a short time later and he went and took a shower.  He came back in dressed and with a smile on his face.



"What's so funny?"



"Just the stuff you packed for me.  Thanks again by the way."



"What's so funny about it?"



He held out the bottle of shampoo that he had found in his bag.  They looked at each other and laughed. 



"Sorry, force of habit.  I used to always forget my shampoo so now I make a point to remember it.  I just forget something else instead."  She suddenly realized what she was saying and what she had forgotten and got embarrassed. 



"Ok.  If you don't forget the shampoo, what do you forget?" he asked not realizing she was turning red.



"My nightgown," she whispered



"What?"



"I remember the shampoo, but I always forget my nightgown."  They looked at each other and started to laugh again.



"That's okay.  I usually forget my razor," he smiled.  "I'm so glad you came, Sarah." He put an arm around her shoulder.



"I'm glad I could help AJ.  I mean, sir."



"AJ is fine." He squeezed her shoulder then said, "It seems I have an extra t-shirt or two packed.  You are welcome to one if you would like."



"Thanks.  Ready to go eat?"



They went out and walked to the restaurant that AJ had remembered.  They had a great meal then they went for a walk.  They talked about anything except work.  They spent most of their time at the hospital but they had the chance every now and then to go for walks around the city.  Finally, on Sunday, they flew home and parted ways at AJ's house, both thinking about the time they spent together.  Both knew that it shouldn't have happened but they were glad that it did.





Monday Morning

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, VA



"Hey, Mac.  How's your friend doing?" asked Harm.



"Doing just fine now.  How did things go here without the Admiral?"



"Oh, it went fine."

"Admiral on deck," Harm was interrupted by Tiner.



"At ease. Commander, Colonel.  Find the Roberts and meet me in my office."  The Admiral went into his office and started to sort through his mail when someone knocked on the door.  "Enter."



"Reporting as ordered, sir."



"At ease.  Have a seat.  I just wanted to apologize for the other day, leaving so quickly and if I snapped at anyone.  I had just heard that Francesca was in an accident."



"Is she going to be okay?" asked Harriet.



"Eventually, she broke two ribs, her right leg, but the worst was that she broke a vertebra.  But there was no spinal injures.  She will be coming here in a couple of weeks to finish her recovery."



"Back injuries can be severe, are you sure she'll be okay?" asked Harm.



"She was moving pretty good just before I left yesterday.  The doctor told her it might bother her for a while but at least she'll be able to walk to get her medicine." 



"That's good.  Sir, if she needs anything let her know she can feel free to call us," said Mac.



"Thank you, Mac.  I will." 



Later that day as Mac and Harm walked back into the office from lunch, Mac noticed a small package on her desk.  Harm insisted on checking it out before she opened it but he was confused by the contents.  Mac looked in the package she started to laugh. 



"What is it, Mac?"



"My friend has a sense of humor.  I told them I usually forget to take my shampoo with me on sudden trips, so," she turned over the package and out fell lots of trial size shampoo bottles. 





Two weeks later, Francesca was ready to come and visit.  Webb stopped by and asked to see the Admiral that Friday.  "You want to come with me, AJ?"



"You don't have to go, Webb."



"It's my plane.  Besides, I like Italy.  Mac coming?" Clay said casually.



"I'll ask.  When do we leave?"



"When ever you ready.  Meet at the same place."



"Ok.  I'll call Mac.  See you there.  And Webb thanks again."



"Not a problem, AJ."





Monday Morning

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, VA



"Chegwidden!" called out the SECNAV as he stormed into the bullpen.



"Yes, sir," he called out from Mac's office where he had been helping her with a case.



"Your office now!"



AJ followed the smaller man into his office wondering what was happening.  He was surprised with the questions that Sheffield was asking him.



"Were you or were you not at Reagan National on Saturday?"



"I was," AJ answered.



"My wife was there also, flying out to visit a friend."



"I hope she had a pleasant flight," AJ said still unsure with this line of questioning.



"Oh the flight was fine," he said sounding annoyed.  "Boring in fact, but it was what she saw at the airport that seems much more interesting."



"I don't think that I understand, sir."



"My wife said she saw you with a young dark haired woman."



"That would be true," AJ said.



"And that you kissed her."



"I honestly don't think that is overly interesting."



"You don't think it's interesting when the JAG is caught fraternizing with a woman in his command?" Sheffield yelled. 



AJ finally realized what had happened but said nothing.  He simply reached into his desk and pulled out a sheet of paper.



"Your resignation?  If we can keep this quite, this isn't necessary, AJ." 



"Actually I think it is.  You come in here accusing me of fraternization when you know very well that I would never do that," AJ said heatedly.



"AJ think about this reasonably.  The colonel is a beautiful woman, I can see how you could be attracted to her, but AJ this is your career."



"Actually this has nothing to do with your accusations.  I decided weeks ago, when the time was right, to do this.  The time is now right."



"Why, AJ?"



"I almost lost someone very important to me.  I want to be able to spend some time with her.  And for your information it is not Colonel MacKenzie, so don't even mention it to her or anyone else.  I will not have her career damaged by false rumors.  She's had enough problems, she doesn't need anymore."



The SecNav reluctantly accepted AJ's resignation and had Harriet plan a party to celebrate AJ's retirement.  The JAG team was shocked to hear about his decision but understood his reasons.  He wanted to spend more time with his daughter.  Francesca planned on staying in the states for at least another month so she was glad that she could spend more time with her Papa.





One Month later

AJ's retirement party



"Seems Clay and Francesca are getting along great," Mac commented to AJ in the middle of their dance.



"They had better not or I will break his nose again." Mac laughed.



"You have such a great sense of humor."



"I'm serious.  Webb and my daughter?  Hell it was bad enough when she was seeing Rabb," he grumbled.



"She's a grown woman, AJ."  Suddenly realizing what she called him she added, "Sir."



"I know.  But she will always be my little girl." 



"That's because you're her daddy, sir," she said before they both fell silent.



"AJ's fine.  I'm retired now. We don't have to go to Italy anymore for you to call me that."


The song ended and AJ went over to rescue his daughter from Webb.  While they were talking, the SECNAV and his wife saw them.  "Oh, Edward there is the woman I saw the Admiral with at the airport."



"The one in the blue?" commenting on Mac's blue dress. 



"No dear, the one in the green.  What's wrong?" she asked noticing his look.



"The one in the blue is one of his officers.  I accused him of fraternization, he handed in his resignation.  I don't know who the other woman is."



"Well, dear, there is only one way to find out."



"Ok, but let's not say anything about my screw-up."  They walked over to AJ.  "AJ, how are you doing tonight?"



"Doing fine.  Mrs. Sheffield, Mr. Secretary, I would like to introduce you to Francesca Paretti.  My daughter."



The SECNAV's face went pale.  "A word, AJ." They stepped away from the group.  "Why didn't you just say something?"



"It still would have looked like I was covering something up.  It doesn't matter, once the accusations are made."



"AJ if you had just said something.  I'm sorry."



"No need to be sorry.  It was a simple misunderstanding.  Everything I told you that day was true.  Francesca was in an accident a while back.  I decided then that I needed to spend more time with her."



"Ok, but I can guarantee that the Colonel will not hear about this from me or anyone in my office."



"Sounds good.  Excuse me, I have to go and save my daughter from Rabb now."





The next two months were mostly uneventful.  The only problem for AJ was that Francesca was still seeing a lot of Clayton Webb.  Finally, Francesca had to go back to Italy and work.  She invited Clay and Mac to join her and her father on the trip.  Francesca spent most of the trip talking to Clay and watching how Mac and her father interacted.  It was almost as if they were different people once they stepped onto the plane.  She noticed that they called each other by their first names and they would occasionally touch when they thought no one else was looking.



Clay, Mac and AJ stayed at the same hotel they were at before since Francesca's apartment was too small for them all.  Mac and AJ had dinner in the hotel while Clay and Francesca had dinner out at her favorite restaurant.  Once dinner was over, Mac decided to slip into her jeans so she went into her room to change.  She opened her suitcase and noticed something missing.  She searched her bag twice just to be sure before she cursed. 



In the living room, AJ smiled, slipped into his room to grab something then knocked on her door.



"Yes," she answered a bit flustered.



"Forget something?" he asked as he leaned against the doorframe.



She went red then said, "Yes, the usual."  He chuckled. 



He tossed her a T-shirt; "Here you can wear this."



She easily caught the shirt, "AJ, I can't keep borrowing your shirts."  She walked to him to hand the shirt back.  Mac was even more embarrassed now because what she had forgotten was the t-shirt that she had borrowed from him during their last trip to Italy.



"Fine, wear this."  He tossed her a gorgeous silk nightgown. She looked up at him in shock and was surprised by the look in his eyes.  It was desire and this time, it didn't go away.  She had seen desire in his eyes before but he was always able to mask it after just a moment.  Now he didn't bother to. 



"Sarah, I've dreamt of seeing you in this or something like it for a long time."  He touched her cheek with a finger then leaned down and lightly kissed her.  She was a little hesitant at first, and so he broke the kiss off.  They looked into each others eyes and she suddenly realized that he was retired.  She reached up and kissed him with all the passion she felt for him.  Their kiss was interrupted when Webb walked in the room.  Mac tried to pull away from AJ but he held her tight. 



"I'm not letting you go," he whispered into her ear.



"Am I interrupting anything?" Webb asked, in his normal sarcastic tone.



"Go away, Clay," Mac said over her momentary embarrassment.



"You heard the lady, Webb.  Get out."



"Ok.  I'll stay over at Francesca's tonight."



"Damn it, Webb!"



"AJ, Francesca is a big girl she can take care of herself," Mac insisted. 



"Yes, she is," he agreed.  "But if you hurt her Webb, I'll break more than your nose.  Understood?"



Clay simply nodded then left the suite.  AJ tightened his grip on Sarah.  "Why don't we take this some place with fewer interruptions?"



"Sounds good to me," Sarah purred as she ran her hand along his back.



"You going to bring that nightgown?" he asked.



"I guess," she smiled as she led the way to the bedroom.  "But then again, it will just end up on the floor and it really doesn't match the carpet." 



The end.