Disclaimer: I own nothing; except for Dani…we're now quite attached to each other.

1855 ZULU

JAG HEADQUARTERS

FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

"Why does my uncle have to be so controlling?" Dani looked up at the blue sky as she walked hand in hand with Jason outside JAG after their lunch.

"Because he loves you," he said calmly, having answered this question three times already since they ate.

"How can you be so understanding?" she stopped to look at him, "Especially considering how he feels about you."

"Look, Dani," he took both her hands in his, "I love spending time with you and I won't let anyone get in the way of that."

"But?"

"But you've told me how important family is to you and I won't be the person who comes between your relationship with them."

"I'm so happy I met you," she kissed him quickly on the cheek, mindful of the officers who sat eating their own lunches a few yards away.

"Me too," he blushed slightly and they continued walking.

"Oh, no."

"What?" Jason asked, thinking he did something wrong.

"My uncle's here," she grimaced, pointing at his car.

"Major MacKenzie."

Mac looked up from her desk where she was working with Harm to see a man dressed in a dark business suit. Although they had never met, Mac knew that this hand to be Dani's uncle, Paul Arkada. She greeted him formally, not sure of the proper etiquette for this specific situation, "Mr. Arkada."

"Call me Paul," he shook her hand.

"Sarah, please," she gestured at Harm who had also stood up, "Lieutenant Commander Rabb."

"Nice to meet you," Harm picked up a file, "I'll call on this from my office. Excuse me."

"I was under the impression that my niece was here with you."

"She is," Mac clasped her hands in front of her, "She went to get something to eat."

"Very well," they fell into an awkward silence, "I'm sure Daniela has informed you of our disagreement and I hope you took into account my niece's flare for the dramatic," she smirked slightly at that one, "Sarah, I know my actions may seem extreme, but I have my niece's best interests at heart."

"I do not doubt that," she looked through her window to see the elevator door open to see Jason and Dani. As they stepped off, they parted ways with Jason going back to his desk and Dani towards her awaiting uncle. Mac directed Paul's attention to Dani's entrance, "There she is."

"Daniela."

"Uncle," she greeted tersely, throwing a smile at Mac, "You don't mind if we have a word is private do you?"

"Of course not, just remember volume."

"Believe me, I will, the admiral made that quite clear."

"I'll be in Commander Rabb's office if you need me," Mac stepped out.

"Hey," Dani knocked on the doorframe of Harm's office a little later.

"How'd it go?" Harm asked.

"He agreed to my terms," she smiled.

"Where is he now?" Mac asked.

"Urgent business call, I told him he could use your office."

"She's a controlling one, Mac," he jerked his them at her, "You better watch out."

"So should you, or you're vacation offer will be off the table," she grinned evilly.

"When do you leave?" Mac asked.

"I have a flight from Dulles tonight."

"That was fast," Harm whistled.

"Well, it has been booked for a week," she sighed, "I tried the silent treatment for a while before choosing-–"

"The World War III approach," Mac offered.

"Yeah," she rolled her eyes, and then looked pointedly at Mac, "One of the conditions is that I change into proper attire, so would you mind walking out to my uncle's car with me?"

"Of course not," she turned to Harm, "We'll see you later."

"Bye, ladies," he teased as they left.

"What do you want to talk about?" Mac asked once they were out of Harm's office.

"It's about your vacation."

"What about it?" Mac pressed the elevator button and the door slid open.

"I wanted to encourage you to bring Harm," she leaned casually against the elevator rail.

"Harm and I are friends, Dani," she punched the elevator button, "Nothing more."

"But you wish you were, more that is."

"No, I don't."

"Come on, a sister knows these things."

"Whatever," Mac stepped out of the elevator followed by Dani.

"You figured it out when I started seeing Jason," she challenged.

"You two were as easy to read as a flare gun," she laughed, "The entire office knew."

"So you're not flare gun," Dani popped open the trunk of her uncle's car and pulled out a duffle bag, "But I can still see the flicker."

"Drop it."

"Okay," she let the bag fall and Mac grabbed it.

"Not the bag," she shoved it back into the arms of her laughing sister.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, Major," Dani stressed with a smile, "But isn't that considered conduct unbecoming?"

"Just get inside and change."

"Yes, ma'am," Dani led the way back into the building.

"Petty Officer Tiner?" Paul questioned approaching the yeoman's desk.

"Yes, sir?" he stood up, knowing instantly who it was, "You must be Dani's uncle. I'm Jason," he shook his hand, "It's a nice to meet you, sir."

"What are your intentions with my niece?" he cut straight to the point.

"Well, sir, at the moment we're friends who enjoy spending time together," he began, "She's smart and funny, not to mention beautiful. Dani's every man's dream."

"I am curious about your dreams specifically."

"I have nothing but respect for your niece, sir," Jason told him sincerely, "And if I even think of acting in any way that reflects anything but that, I can assure Major MacKenzie will kick my six."

"Your six?"

"Backside, sir."

"Well, Jason, you rest assured that if you hurt my niece in any way Major MacKenzie will not be the only person after your six," he said putting the emphasis on the naval term.

"Uncle Paul," Dani walked up to them wearing a knee-length pink sundress with a matching cardigan draped over her arm, "I see you met Jason."

"We were just getting to know each other," he told her.

"Oh, good," she grabbed Jason's arm affectionately.

"Are you ready to leave?" Paul asked her.

"One minute," she turned to Jason, "I'll call you when get there."

"I'll look forward to it," he smiled and she kissed him quickly.

"Bye, Jason."

"Bye, Dani."

A/N: I know this chapter had very little Harm and Mac, but I promise that next chapter will have both of them…in France. I'll try to post again by the end of this weekend, but I leave for college on Monday, so I'm pretty busy packing. Don't forget to reply…they make me smile!