Disclaimer: As in Ch.1
AN: I am almost done, folks. Hang on for couples more chapters.
Somewhere above the Pacific Ocean
This flight seemed like the longest Grace had ever taken. Her mind could not stop thinking of a hundred worst-case scenarios. She envied her son, who'd gone back to sleep as soon as he finished his meal.
She'd had to pull so many strings just to get on the flight, too. Unconsciously, her hand played with the paper her father'd sent earlier. She'd tried to reach him but had no luck, and as she told Jeremy, the only way to find out what going on was to physically be at Okinawa.
*Flashback* (Grace's POV)
22nd December 2027
CIA Headquarters
Washington, DC
I got to my father's office without much hassle. After all, who wants to harass the daughter of the Director?
Passing my father's secretary, I smiled at her. She'd known me for ages now, having met me when I was a little kid who'd come to visit my father as much as I could. My mother said he spoiled me rotten, and I agreed and loved him for it.
Knocking on his door, I heard his serious, gruff voice telling me to enter.
"Daddy?" I stuck my head in, and my father stood up with a smile.
"Grace! What a surprise! Come on in!"
"Hi, Daddy, I..." I was interrupted as my dad gave me a big bear hug.
"To what do I owe this honor?" He asked, pretending to be polite.
I rolled my eyes with a grin. "What? Can't a daughter visit her Daddy?"
"Surrre." My father didn't look convinced. "So, what did Trey do this time?"
I gaped in disbelief. "Am I that transparent?"
"You are where a certain hot-shot navy pilot is concern."
I sighed. "Nothing! He's just being so...so stubborn and over-protective that I'm seriously considering shooting him on the spot."
My father smiled at that. "Why don't you sit down and tell me about it."
"It was before his deployment last month. He's just so ridiculous sometimes, and we had this big fight. I got so upset that I said I hated him and stormed out. I haven't heard from him since then."
"So you feel bad about it now?"
"Yeah...I don't hate him, but I'm afraid he thought I was very serious. I tried to e-mail him a couple times, but he didn't respond. Daddy, did I make a big mistake?"
"Well, I don't know what both of you arguing about, but to hazard a guess, did it involve a certain English nobleman?"
My cheeks grew warm as I started to blush. "He just can't stand Alex. Alex is a nice guy."
"He is, but what Trey can't stand is the idea of *you* dating him."
"You really think so?" I blushed even more.
My father sighed, shaking his head fondly. "That boy reminds me so much of his father. All that stubbornness. Make a quick guess who came to my office complaining about the girl that tried to get Trey's attention during the NATO ball? And who came running to my office, almost giving me a heart attack, because she was so upset that Trey had gone to a mission without telling her?"
I smiled sheepishly. "I had it bad, didn't I?"
"Answer me honestly: do you love him? I know that Rabb boy fell for you years ago."
"Daddy!" I almost shout. I didn't come here for a father-daughter interrogation session!
"Don't 'Daddy' me, Grace. Do you love Trey?"
Taking a deep breath, I nodded. "I do"
My father took another deep sigh and rubbed his temples wearily. "If someone had told me 30 years ago that Rabb and I would get to be more that friends, I'd probably have told them that they were crazy. But, it seems that my girl's fallen in love with a Rabb. Hmm...I should have a talk with that kid when he returns home."
That got my attention. "Trey's going be here for Christmas?"
"Yep! Mac said that Trey called her again this morning to confirm it." He grinned at my delighted expression, then became serious. "I assume you are going to tell him?"
"I might, if he forgives me for the stupid thing I said to him."
He was about to respond when the phone buzzed. "Sir, you have a phone call from Admiral Rabb."
I thought about leaving to give him privacy to talk with Uncle Harm, but he waved me into a chair as he answered the phone. I heard brief snatches of the conversation, which rapidly grew serious.
Before long, the fax machine started beeping, and my father told Uncle Harm to wait for a second while he retrieved the paper. He quickly skimmed the paper and turned pale. I shot him a curious glance, but he just picked the phone up.
His next few words seemed to shoot me through the heart. "Lieutenant Harmon Rabb, III. Your son is MIA, Harm."
I stunned in my chair, not hearing anything more that my father said. Everything seemed to be moving so slowly, like a dream. I watched dazedly as my father hung up the phone and pulled me into his arms. Tears began to slip down my cheeks, and soon I was sobbing.
*end of flashback*
TBC…
A/N: Hmm… Rabb and Webb?! Can't help it! I like Webb too, although he can get into your nerves sometimes. *LOL* Don't forget the feedbacks, folks.