[email protected]
�That would be nice, sir,� Coates said. She was dead on her feet.
�Carolyn, Sturgis, you two headed home?� Mac asked.
�Not eagerly,� Sturgis said.
�I don�t think I�ll get any sleep,� Carolyn put in.
Mac looked at Harm who shrugged. �I think we all need to stick together tonight. Slumber party at Harm�s?� Mac said. She would have offered up her place but she didn�t keep any alcohol on hand and wasn�t sure how well stocked her fridge was. Food and drinks were definitely required for the next few hours.
�You good with that plan?� Sturgis asked Harm.
�Completely,� Harm said. �Jen, you in? The only stipulation is that there are no ranks, sir�s, or ma�am�s.�
�Sure,� the petty officer said, not used to being invited to hang out with the Commanders and the Colonel. When the whole JAG gang went to McMurphy�s she went, and enjoyed spending time with the people she worked with without the constraints of their uniforms, but she wasn�t used to the almost intimate, though thoroughly nonsexual, atmosphere that this �slumber party� implied.
While the officers collected their covers, coats, and briefcases, Jennifer knocked tentatively on the Admiral�s door.
�I thought I told you all to go home,� he snapped as he pulled the door open.
�You did, sir. I just wanted to see if you needed anything before I left,� Coates said.
�I�m fine, Coates,� Chegwidden said apologetically. He really liked the girl and she didn�t deserve to take the brunt of his anger, though she did without complaint.
�Alright, sir. I�ll see you in the morning� later in the morning,� Coates said awkwardly. Chegwidden nodded.
Harm came back first and looked at the Admiral. �We�re all going to my place� none of us really want to be alone right now,� he said. �You�re welcome to join us.�
�Thank you for the offer, but I think I�ll just stay here,� AJ said, touched that the officers under his command cared so much about him. Being the boss rarely allowed him the opportunity to actively be a part of the JAG family, and when he got the chance he truly treasured the time.
�Alright,� Harm said. He obviously hadn�t expected the Admiral to accept his offer. �The offer stands, though,� he said before leaving to join the others by the elevators.