1900 Local, 0100 Eastern Heathrow Airport London, England

"That was a long flight," Harm said, stretching his long legs as they walked off the plane.

"Six hours and 43 minutes," Mac said, "But I don't know why you're complaining. You slept the whole time."

"Well, at least I didn't snore," Harm smiled at her. They stepped out of the connecting tunnel and into the terminal. Mac looked around for a moment before seeing a young Marine waiting. He seemed to be looking around for them. She nudged Harm in the ribs.

"Think he might be looking for us?" she joked.

Harm smiled and nodded and they walked over to him.

"Corporal, I'm Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie and this it Commander Harmon Rabb."

The Corporal snapped to attention. "Welcome to the U.K., ma'am."

"Thank you, corporal."

After Harm and Mac had collected their bags and passed through customs, the corporal drove them to the US Embassy. The Embassy was situated on the edge of a small park. The building itself was made of white stone, and on the roof, facing the park, was a golden statue of an eagle with its wings spread to their full span.

"Looks more like a shrine to pilots," Mac joked as she poked Harm who smiled tiredly; the statue did look like a three dimensional replica of his wings.

The Corporal informed them that the red and white brick building that they had just passed was actually the Navy's Headquarters in the UK.

"Why aren't we going there?" Harm asked.

"It's closed for the day, sir," the Corporal answered. "I've been instructed to bring you straight to the embassy. Miss O'Connor, your diplomatic aid will be meeting us."

"A diplomatic aid?" Mac asked.

"Yes, ma'am."

Mac looked to Harm who raised his eyebrows. It was only a few more minutes before the car was parked outside the gates of the embassy and they were headed inside. At the door and again at the desk inside, the presented their ID's and the corporal led them to a small room with comfortable chairs where they were to wait for Miss O'Connor.

When the corporal had left them alone, Harm said to Mac, "I'm beat, and my legs are killing me."

"You spent how many years in an F-14 and you find a commercial flight cramped?"

"There's a big difference between an F-14 and 747," Harm said with a knowing smile.

"Ah," Mac nodded and smiled. Then, added, "But nothing compares to the racks on submarines."

They both smiled, and then they heard someone clear her throat in the doorway and they turned to see a young woman who was just a few inches shorter than Mac. Her light auburn hair was braided into an oval around the back of her head, and a few wispy curls that had escaped framed her face. She wore a tailored black suit, and cradled in her left arm was an expensive leather trapper-keeper. She looked at them through piercing green eyes.

"Who are you?" Harm asked.

"My name is Lynnea O'Connor, and I'm from the Embassy's Attaché Core, sir," the young woman replied, "I apologize for my tardiness; I hope you haven't been waiting long. You must be Commander Rabb and Lt. Colonel Mackenzie."

"Mac," said Mac as she shook Lynn's hand.

"Harm," Harm said taking her hand next.

Lynn smiled upon releasing his hand. "If you'll follow me, we'll get you to the hotel; you must be exhausted."

Mac smiled at the thought of a hotel rather than Visiting Officer's Quarters on the base. But there wasn't a base in London.

"Where are we staying?" Harm asked, obviously thinking the same thing Mac was.

"At the Commons Hotel, it's a short drive from here," Lynn replied, as she picked up Mac's bag.

"Oh, you don't have to carry that," Mac tried to get the bag back.

"It's my job to make things as easy as possible for you," Lynn replied, "Besides, it really isn't that heavy."

"Well, neither of you ladies ought to be carrying that," Harm said, swiping the bag from Lynn, who smiled at him.

"Thank you, Commander."

Once they were all seated inside the car, and she had given the driver the address, Lynn looked at the two of them. The JAG Corps had certainly sent two of its finest looking officers, and from what she had heard, its best. They must have known each other for a long time, she thought, judging by the comfortable way in which they sat together. They also looked very tired.

"How was the flight?" Lynn asked.

"It was normal, long," Harm said. Mac smiled slightly.

"It's worse flying from the US to the UK, but the ride back should be more enjoyable," Lynn agreed.

"Excuse me, Miss O'Connor," Mac began.

"Please, call me 'Lynn.'"

"Lynn, we know that we're here to act in diplomatic roles, but we still don't know what that means exactly. Could you enlighten us?"

Lynn nodded, and then began to explain, "Because the case has drawn so much attention, Admiral Grant wants to show the British public that the US Navy has taken the issue seriously, which is why he asked Ambassador Phillips to request Admiral Chegwidden's presence. You are here to represent him."

"That much we know" Harm said, "What exactly happened between our sailors and the British Royal?"

"A royal?" Lynn asked as if she had no idea, then her eyes widened, "Oh, the report must not have been ready for you before you left. The fight took place three days ago in a pub. The British sailor, who is the prince's cousin, a Duke, provoked the an argument with two of our sailors, and the situation escalated to a fight."

"A duke isn't the same as a royal?" Mac asked.

"A duke isn't royal, he is a member of the nobility," Lynn clarified, "Some dukes are future princes or kings, but this Duke would not have become a royal. However, the British have always taken keen interest in their nobles, so, naturally, the case has drawn a lot of press. Ah, here we are."

They had reached the hotel. It was an elegant white stone building. Its courtyard was lined with dark green trimmed hedges and beautiful flowerbeds. Lynn led them up a white stone staircase, through the antique doors and into the lobby. The lobby was furnished with fancy chairs and sofas, fresh flowers, and was occupied by several guests and a few distinguished looking men in matching gray uniforms.

"'Ello, Miss O'Connor," one of them called out, his voice heavy with his Irish accent. He had gracefully taken Harm and Mac's bags and was walking beside Lynn.

"Hello, Henry, how's your wife?" she asked.

"She comes 'ome today," he replied, his upper lip not moving, "Thank ye fer askin'."

"I'm glad she's doing better," Lynn smiled and led Mac and Harm to the desk. Mac was surprised that Lynn would know the footman so well. But then again, she herself had always made it a point to know all the men and women serving under her. At the desk, Lynn asked the receptionist if the rooms 215 and 217 were ready. She replied that they were and handed Lynn the keys.

Lynn turned to face the two officers, "Here are your keys," she said, "Henry can show you where they are. Why don't you go freshen up and change, then we can continue our conversation in the restaurant."

Harm and Mac gave her questioning looks. Lynn acknowledged them and then said, "I'm sure you must be hungry for some decent food, and you should change so not to draw attention. I'll meet you back here in ten minutes, alright?"

Both Harm and Mac nodded and turned to follow Henry the footman to the elevator as Lynn took out her cell phone.

In nine minutes and twenty-seven seconds, the two officers had changed into civilian clothes and were headed down to the lobby. Mac was wearing an off white cotton sweater over dark jeans; Harm had chosen dark jeans, as well, but had opted for a black sweater. When they entered the lobby, Lynn was seated in a comfortable looking armchair with her binder open in her lap, a single sheet of paper on the floor, and her cell phone to her ear.

"I understand, sir," they overheard her say, "Yes, sir." Pause. "Of course, sir." Another pause. "Goodbye, sir." She ended the call and placed the cell phone back in his holder, which was clipped to the waist of her skirt. "Sorry, about that," she said as she gathered the papers in her lap. Harm bent to pick up the paper that had slipped to the floor, and as he handed it back he thought that he read something familiar in the upper corner, but he dismissed it after a moment. "Thank you, sir. Shall we?"

Lynn led them around a corner and to the restaurant, where she waved at the host, who immediately sat them at a table near the window. A waiter came almost immediately and offered them tea and cake. Mac and Harm both accepted and Lynn politely declined.

After the waiter had left, Lynn reopened her binder, and said, "While you were changing, I ran copies of the report," she said, and handed them each a packet.

Harm and Mac scanned the papers, and Lynn began to summarize the case.

"Lt. Timothy Elliot was the Navy JAG who investigated the case; he found that the Duke instigated the fight and that our sailors fought in retaliation. I think," she paused to recheck the report, "Yes, all three sailors involved accepted letters of reprimand."

"What were the charges?" asked Mac.

"I believe the charges were Conduct Unbecoming," Lynn replied, "Although, I must admit that I don't know much about military law."

"The fight took place three days ago, how was it handled to quickly?" Harm said, more to himself than to either of the women.

"Admiral Grant and Ambassador Phillips both wanted the case resolved quickly and quietly," Lynn said, "But, despite their best efforts, it leaked, as did the results of Lt. Elliot's investigation."

"So, we're here to support Lt. Elliot, and that's it?" Mac said disbelieving, "The Admiral could have sent a written statement and it would have been just as effective."

"That's true," Lynn agreed, "But Admiral Grant thought that it would be a good idea to use the attention and turn it into positive publicity."

Mac looked even more disgusted at the thought of being used as a poster girl; she'd hated her stint on Court TV. Harm, though being more familiar with publicity, still hated it. Both of them sat with their faces drawn, unconsciously, into frowns.

"Do either of you have any experience with the press," Lynn asked when the waiter had left.

"I shot a commercial for the Navy last year, and the year before that Mac prosecuted a case on Court TV," Harm answered.

"Excellent. That will be very helpful. I'm hoping that you won't have to do much except look good."

"What are we going to be doing?" Mac asked.

"Aside from the press conference, you'll attend the premier of an opera tomorrow night, and then the following night, you'll attend the Annual Christmas Ball," Lynn said.

Mac took a deep breath and mentally went over everything she had packed, knowing that she hadn't packed clothes for either of these events. "I didn't bring anything that would be appropriate to wear," she said.

Harm, pretending to be surprised, looked at her and said, "You packed most of your closet and you don't have anything?"

Mac shot him a glare, and then looked to Lynn. "Don't worry, ma'am," Lynn said at the look on Mac's face, "Tomorrow, after the press conference, I'll take you to get appropriate attire."

"It's going to be very expensive," Mac mused.

"No, it's covered in the Admiral's budget," she explained, then she switched tones, "I'll be attending the events with you and Admiral Grant. My job, as your diplomatic aid, is to help you with what you may need. Information, clothing, anything at all."

Harm and Mac both nodded. They all finished what was left of their tea and stood. They walked out of the restaurant, Harm and Mac were surprised when Lynn handed the bill to the cashier but didn't pay. He just smiled and nodded.

"I'm sure the two of you are exhausted, and would like to rest," Lynn said when they had reached the lobby, "I'll meet you tomorrow morning at Admiral Grant's office. There will be a driver standing by to take you there in the morning. If you need anything before then," she paused and pulled two name cards out of her binder, "Ring me. My number is on the card."

"Thank you, Miss O'Connor," Harm said; he wasn't comfortable calling her 'Lynn' yet.

"Yes, thank you," said Mac as she held the elevator open, "See you tomorrow."

Lynn smiled and then she turned and walked out of the hotel. Harm and Mac looked at each other, sighed, and stepped into the elevator.