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Crouching Tiger: Chapter 7
By Marissa
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The first thing Mac found in the file was a profile of Harm. Mac quickly scanned the paper. Ivan Arkadeyevick was born in Rzhey, about twenty-five miles from Moscow. His parents had both died in a train accident when Harm was twelve and with no living relatives he was quickly sent to boarding school in Moscow. Shortly after finishing school he was recruited by the RVS. After his training was completed he had spent six months in Lebanon working for the Russian Embassy there before he was sent to America. The rest of the story she knew.
Mac spent the next hour in the Library pouring over the information. Whoever that blond woman was, she certainly had high clearance access. Most of the documents were stamped with a large red "Top Secret" and detailed Harm's missions and their objectives for the RVS. Mac was shocked to find that her name was mentioned numerous times. Reading on she found that somehow, Harm had been sending bits of information to his agency about information he had learned while with Mac on their cases. Mac shook her head. She was still having a hard time believing everything that had happened over the last week. Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice speaking in Russian announcing that the library would be closing in ten minutes. Mac collected her things, tucked the file beneath her coat and left the library.
Outside the rain had stopped, but the clouds still remained. Mac stood for a moment on the library steps before her grumbling stomach made her realize that she hadn't eaten since arriving in Russia. Quickly getting her bearings Mac set off to find a decent restaurant. Her search turned out to be futile and she was just about to give up when she turned the corner and found an inviting café tucked between two buildings. She entered and was soon seated.
The food was delicious, made better by Mac's hunger. She was nearly finished with her meal when a man in the back table caught her eye. His back was facing towards her, but he still looked vaguely familiar. She watched intently for a while for him to turn around. He finally did so when the waitress walked by and Mac caught her breath. It was Harm.
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Harm sighed and took another drink of his vodka. He had never been much of a heavy drinker, but tonight the vodka seemed to be just what he needed. He had spent most of his day wandering around the city of Moscow, visiting museums and remembering his childhood spent here in the city.
Harm took another drink and pushed the food around on his plate. He hadn't had much of an appetite since leaving America. At last count he had been over ten pounds lighter. A seemingly small sum, but on his lean frame it was very apparent. He was so entranced that he didn't see the woman approaching him until she was sitting in the chair across from him.
"Fancy seeing you hear," she said.
Harm looked up sharply and his jaw dropped. "M-M-Mac," he stuttered. "How did you..." he trailed off.
Mac looked at him. Her insides were quaking and she didn't know what to say.
Harm lowered his voice. "We shouldn't been seen together. See that door behind you? Go out and I'll meet you out there in a few minutes."
"But how do I..."
"I'll be there. Trust me," Harm cut her off.
Mac quickly did as she was told, leaving Harm alone once again. Harm watched her leaving and took a deep, but shaky breath. How had she found him? And more importantly, why was she here? He took a large swallow of his vodka and took a cursory glance of the restaurant. Nothing was suspicious looking, but one could never be certain. He was fairly sure that his agency didn't have anyone following him, but if they did and they saw Mac with him.... She was most certainly doomed. He gathered his coat and went to go find Mac.
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Mac stood in the darkened alley, waiting for Harm. What was taking so long? She wondered. He had seemed so sincere when he told her to trust him, but then again he had lied about everything before so who was to say that he hadn't already left? She was just about to go back inside when the door opened and out stepped Harm.
Before she could do anything he had her in a huge bear hug and gave her a fierce kiss.
"Why are you here? Do you have any idea how stupid is was for you to come?" Harm sounded angry, but his cheeks were wet with tears.
"I had to see you again. I couldn't just let you go," Mac replied, struggling to hold back the tears stinging in her own eyes.
They stood there for a while just holding each other until Harm finally broke the embrace. "We need to go. Where are you staying?"
"The Hotel Metropol Moscow."
Harm nodded. "That's about ten blocks from here. Do you think you can walk?"
"Of course."
Harm took Mac's hand and guided her out from behind the restaurant and onto the street. They walked in silence for a while.
"How did you find me?" Harm finally asked her.
"It was an accidentally actually. I was hungry and this was the first place I found that looked appealing."
Harm nodded. "Does anyone know you're here?"
Mac shook her head. "Just Webb, but he doesn't know that I've actually found you yet."
"How'd Webb take the news?"
"He was pretty furious. You created quite a stir back in America."
Harm sighed heavily. "That's what I'm afraid of Mac. As happy as I am to see you, you shouldn't of come. I have to disappear in four days. What are you going to do then? I'm not going back to the US. I don't know what you hoped to accomplish by finding me."
"I haven't thought about it actually," said Mac quietly. To be honest, she hadn't really expected to find Harm at all. She was quiet for a long time.
"Mac?" Harm asked hesitantly.
Mac squeezed his hand. "Let's think about that later. Right now I just want to enjoy my time with you. Okay?"
Harm nodded. "Okay."
Crouching Tiger: Chapter 7
By Marissa
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The first thing Mac found in the file was a profile of Harm. Mac quickly scanned the paper. Ivan Arkadeyevick was born in Rzhey, about twenty-five miles from Moscow. His parents had both died in a train accident when Harm was twelve and with no living relatives he was quickly sent to boarding school in Moscow. Shortly after finishing school he was recruited by the RVS. After his training was completed he had spent six months in Lebanon working for the Russian Embassy there before he was sent to America. The rest of the story she knew.
Mac spent the next hour in the Library pouring over the information. Whoever that blond woman was, she certainly had high clearance access. Most of the documents were stamped with a large red "Top Secret" and detailed Harm's missions and their objectives for the RVS. Mac was shocked to find that her name was mentioned numerous times. Reading on she found that somehow, Harm had been sending bits of information to his agency about information he had learned while with Mac on their cases. Mac shook her head. She was still having a hard time believing everything that had happened over the last week. Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice speaking in Russian announcing that the library would be closing in ten minutes. Mac collected her things, tucked the file beneath her coat and left the library.
Outside the rain had stopped, but the clouds still remained. Mac stood for a moment on the library steps before her grumbling stomach made her realize that she hadn't eaten since arriving in Russia. Quickly getting her bearings Mac set off to find a decent restaurant. Her search turned out to be futile and she was just about to give up when she turned the corner and found an inviting café tucked between two buildings. She entered and was soon seated.
The food was delicious, made better by Mac's hunger. She was nearly finished with her meal when a man in the back table caught her eye. His back was facing towards her, but he still looked vaguely familiar. She watched intently for a while for him to turn around. He finally did so when the waitress walked by and Mac caught her breath. It was Harm.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Harm sighed and took another drink of his vodka. He had never been much of a heavy drinker, but tonight the vodka seemed to be just what he needed. He had spent most of his day wandering around the city of Moscow, visiting museums and remembering his childhood spent here in the city.
Harm took another drink and pushed the food around on his plate. He hadn't had much of an appetite since leaving America. At last count he had been over ten pounds lighter. A seemingly small sum, but on his lean frame it was very apparent. He was so entranced that he didn't see the woman approaching him until she was sitting in the chair across from him.
"Fancy seeing you hear," she said.
Harm looked up sharply and his jaw dropped. "M-M-Mac," he stuttered. "How did you..." he trailed off.
Mac looked at him. Her insides were quaking and she didn't know what to say.
Harm lowered his voice. "We shouldn't been seen together. See that door behind you? Go out and I'll meet you out there in a few minutes."
"But how do I..."
"I'll be there. Trust me," Harm cut her off.
Mac quickly did as she was told, leaving Harm alone once again. Harm watched her leaving and took a deep, but shaky breath. How had she found him? And more importantly, why was she here? He took a large swallow of his vodka and took a cursory glance of the restaurant. Nothing was suspicious looking, but one could never be certain. He was fairly sure that his agency didn't have anyone following him, but if they did and they saw Mac with him.... She was most certainly doomed. He gathered his coat and went to go find Mac.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Mac stood in the darkened alley, waiting for Harm. What was taking so long? She wondered. He had seemed so sincere when he told her to trust him, but then again he had lied about everything before so who was to say that he hadn't already left? She was just about to go back inside when the door opened and out stepped Harm.
Before she could do anything he had her in a huge bear hug and gave her a fierce kiss.
"Why are you here? Do you have any idea how stupid is was for you to come?" Harm sounded angry, but his cheeks were wet with tears.
"I had to see you again. I couldn't just let you go," Mac replied, struggling to hold back the tears stinging in her own eyes.
They stood there for a while just holding each other until Harm finally broke the embrace. "We need to go. Where are you staying?"
"The Hotel Metropol Moscow."
Harm nodded. "That's about ten blocks from here. Do you think you can walk?"
"Of course."
Harm took Mac's hand and guided her out from behind the restaurant and onto the street. They walked in silence for a while.
"How did you find me?" Harm finally asked her.
"It was an accidentally actually. I was hungry and this was the first place I found that looked appealing."
Harm nodded. "Does anyone know you're here?"
Mac shook her head. "Just Webb, but he doesn't know that I've actually found you yet."
"How'd Webb take the news?"
"He was pretty furious. You created quite a stir back in America."
Harm sighed heavily. "That's what I'm afraid of Mac. As happy as I am to see you, you shouldn't of come. I have to disappear in four days. What are you going to do then? I'm not going back to the US. I don't know what you hoped to accomplish by finding me."
"I haven't thought about it actually," said Mac quietly. To be honest, she hadn't really expected to find Harm at all. She was quiet for a long time.
"Mac?" Harm asked hesitantly.
Mac squeezed his hand. "Let's think about that later. Right now I just want to enjoy my time with you. Okay?"
Harm nodded. "Okay."