Title: The Kiss

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

Summary: a short scene that takes place sometime after Mac is promoted to Colonel and before SecNav Nelson is replaced.

Category: Romance

Authors notes: Feedback to astridz55@earthlink.net

Mac was in the Admiral’s office discussing the Lucas case and as usual Harm was late. Tiner buzzed in and advised that the Admiral had an important call from the SECNAV.

“Thank you, Tiner.” He picked up the phone but did not dismiss Mac so she heard his side of the conversation. “Mr. Secretary. How can I help you?”

“By getting to my office ASAP,” he said gruffly.

“Why?”

“You are effectively transferred to a line position.”

“What?” AJ asked confused.

“Remember what I said about the DCNO coming from a line position? If you still want it that is. Do you?”

“Hell, yes,” AJ insisted.

“Good. That is what I was hoping you would say. Your paperwork has been processed so as of this morning at 0900 hours you were no longer the JAG. We will have a ceremony this afternoon at JAG but I need you here now for this paperwork.”

“I’ll be there shortly.”

“Good. See you then Vice-Admiral.” He hung up the phone before AJ could say anything else. AJ simply sat there looking at the phone in his hand for a moment before he realized that Mac had said something.

“Sir, are you all right?” she repeated. He looked at her and hung up the phone.

“Yes, Colonel. I’m fine,” he smiled.

He started to think about leaving JAG. He sure was going to miss it, but this is what his career had been leading to for a long time. He had to take this position. That also meant that he was no longer in a certain Marine colonel’s chain of command anymore. That thought made him smile. With her under his command, he was duty bound to ignore any personal feelings that he might have for her. He tried not to think about them at all but occasionally on lonely nights they would surface before he could banish them again. His mind took him back to the night that they helped save Josh Pendry. She fought beside him like a true Marine then after it was all over, she kissed him on the cheek. He decided to use a page from her own book, he stood and walking around the desk before he spoke.

“You know, Mac, there is something I have always wanted to do.”

“What’s that, Sir?”

AJ stepped closer to her, wrapped his arms around her and dipping her backward he kissed her with great passion. She was startled but responded anyway. ‘This was a dream. It had to be,’ she thought. He finally pulled her upright then stepped away and lightly caressing her cheek as he said, “I have to run. I’ll talk to you later, Sarah.”

He slipped out of the office and left a stunned Marine standing there. She thought about what had just happened. They could both get into a lot of trouble. She remembered his words at Christmas one year.

“Duty is sometime resisting doing the things we want to do,” he had said. She knew that duty and his oath meant a lot to him, it meant a lot to her. What she didn’t understand was why he suddenly had kissed her. They both knew that there was an attraction between the two of them. But neither had acknowledged it, and they knew they couldn’t while they were still in the same chain of command. That could only mean that he was leaving JAG. Still confused, she finally went back to her office and saw Harm on the way.

“Mac, you okay?” She nodded. “What’s up with the Admiral? He told Harriet to order food for this afternoon and said I was in charge till whenever.”

“I think the Admiral is leaving us,” she said.

“What gave you that idea? You know wouldn’t leave without telling us first.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you’re right,” she said unconvinced.

“Are you sure you’re ok, you look a bit dazed. How about dinner tonight? We can talk,” Harm offered.

“I have plans tonight, maybe later this weekend?” she fibbed.

“Ok. Just call if you need anything.”

“I will,” she said both knowing that she wouldn’t.

Mac thought about that kiss all day, she didn’t get any work done. She kept reading the same page over and over. She was really worried about the Admiral. Why would he suddenly forget his duty like that?

Not that she wasn’t thrilled that he kissed her but still. She had seen the trouble John had gotten into and she didn’t want to do that to the Admiral.

When three thirty that afternoon rolled by and the Admiral’s promotion was announced, everyone was totally shocked except Mac and to a much lesser extent, Harm.

“Colonel, can you do the honors?” asked the SECNAV handing her his third star. She nervously approached the Admiral and pinned on his new insignia. He smiled down kindly at her.

“Thanks, Sarah,” he said softly. After the ceremony, they all stood around for a while eating the food that Harriet had arranged for. Harm slipped up on Mac and took her arm and led her away for a few moments.

“How did you know?” Harm asked.

“Just one of those things I guess. Women’s intuition,” she said passing it off.

Harm nodded and walked back to the party. Mac was feeling better now after the announcement. She was no longer worried for the Admiral’s career, or her own but still wondering about the kiss, she took a deep breath and went to rejoin the party. Since it was a Friday at 1600 hours everyone pretty much figured that the day was over. Everyone was having a good time, Harm asked if the Admiral would like to go out with a group after the party at JAG broke up. He declined stating that he had other plans.

“First the Colonel was busy, now you are too,” Harm commented.

“Rotten luck, FlyBoy.” Mac commented.

Harm went off to sulk and see if anyone wanted to go out with him. Just after everyone started to leave after offering final congratulations to him, AJ noticed that Mac was one of the few people left in the office, like usual. AJ looked down at Mac from the corner of his eyes.

“So you have plans tonight, Mac?” AJ asked cautiously.

“I was hoping you would tell me,” she said, more confidently than she felt.

“Dinner at my place then, 1900 hours,” he smiled as she simply nodded then walked into her office and sat down.

She finally went home just before AJ did and she stood staring into her closet trying to think of what to wear. Finally she picked a nice summer dress that she had, it was nice looking but still very comfortable.

She drove to AJ’s house and nervously knocked on the door. He answered and let her in. There were flowers on the table and soft music playing in the background.

“Please come in, Sarah. Would you like something to drink?”

“Ginger ale, please.”

He went over to the bar area and poured her a ginger ale and a scotch for himself. He handed her the drink and their hands touched. They both felt the electricity but tried to ignore it for the moment. He motioned her to take a seat. She sat on one end of the couch he sat on the other.

“Sarah, I wanted to explain this morning to you. The SECNAV let me know that I was suddenly approved for a position I didn’t really think I would get.”

“Why didn’t you mention that you were looking for a new position?”

“I knew my name was up for consideration but I really did not expect it. I didn’t want to explain to everyone that I was looking for a new position then I didn’t get it.”

“You really didn’t think you’d get the position?”

“No. I was surprised, to say the least. All the things I’ve worked for in my career, this is want I’ve always wanted. But you know what’s ironic? When he said ‘effective this morning at 0900 hours you are no longer JAG’ the first thing I thought about was that I was no longer your CO,” he said tenderly.

“I just wish that you had told me.”

“I needed to go and finish up some paperwork that the SECNAV wanted done yesterday, I had to run. I didn’t have time to tell you.”

“But you had time to kiss me?” Mac asked with a half smile.

“Well, as I said, it was something I’ve always wanted to do.”

“I thought that was my line,” she smiled.

“That’s why I said it. But it’s true none the less.” He smiled at her.

“I worried about it all day, I was afraid you were throwing away your career.”

“It just might be worth it for you,” he said as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately both knowing that this was just the beginning.