Disclaimer: While I would love to own them, I don't. As I've said before, I do own Dani and her crazy extended family, but they're not really worth anything.
A/N: You know how in I Love Lucy Ricky always tells Lucy that she's got some esplaning to do, well that's what I feel like I owe you guys. Unfortunately I don't have a good excuse for my hiatus, there's been school, moving back home, and work, but those reasons don't satisfy me. Anyway, I hope there's people out there who are still reading, and thanks to everyone who has encouraged me to get back on this. Happy reading!
0110 ZULU
MAC's APARTMENT
GEORGETOWN
Mac sat in her apartment that night trying to relax. She and Dani had already discussed the logistics of her trip, after which Mac had taken a bubble bath. She had debated eating, but was too edgy to do so. Even she was aware of how ridiculous her nerves were. In the past year alone, she and Harm had been thrust into countless high stakes situations, but she knew Dani made all the difference in this one.
Having Dani enter her life was one of the greatest things to happen to Mac. As a little girl, she longed for a normal happy family, and with Dani around she got just that. Financially and socially, they came from two completely different worlds, but Mac had Joe and Dani had her own stepfather, so they were not totally different. If she were to lose Dani…
With those thoughts in mind, Mac sat in pajama pants and a tank top dusting off bones and trying to relax. A knock at her door interrupted her thoughts, and she knew it could only be one person. A quick look through the peephole confirmed her suspicions, "Hey Harm."
"Hey Mac," he walked in holding a brown bag, "Have you eaten?"
"No, what did you bring?"
"Shrimp Kow from Lang Li's," he answered following her into the kitchen.
"Why were you out there?" Mac asked, knowing that was not on the way between his apartment and hers.
"Josh had a baseball game."
"Oh," she mumbled reaching for some plates, "How'd they do?"
"They won."
"That's good."
"How'd your meeting with Arkada go?" he asked as they headed for the table.
"It went well," she sighed sitting down.
"But?"
"Paul doesn't want me to tell Dani anything."
"You disagreed, didn't you?" she didn't respond but concentrated on serving her food, "You're not considering this, are you, Mac?"
"Yes," she admitted, "He made some valid points."
"Dani needs to know."
"Does she?"
"If she doesn't know there's a threat to her safety, then she's more likely to put herself at risk unknowingly," he argued.
"That didn't stop your Princess from breaking all of the rules."
"At least she was aware of the consequences, but Dani wouldn't be."
"If we tell her," Mac began after considering his arguments, "Dani will stubbornly assert her independence and do something impulsively that will no doubt jeopardize her safety."
"And if we don't?" he prompted, knowing she needed to talk this out.
"There are two scenarios. If Webb can neutralize the threat like he claims, then there's no problem," she took a bite and chewed thoughtfully, "If Webb fails and things do escalate, there's everything you said plus Dani being pissed at me for keeping her in the dark."
"Another valid point."
"So what do I do?"
"It's up to you."
"Thanks, you're so helpful," she rolled her eyes.
"How does Webb plan to flush them out in 36 hours," he ignored her eye roll.
"He wants us to take Dani and her cousin on a very public tour of D.C. tomorrow. He believes one of the groups he's monitoring will make a move and he'll catch them."
"Well, you give Web until noon Saturday, then you tell Dani everything."
"All right," she stood up and picked up her plate, "Thanks Harm."
"You're welcome," he handed her his plate and followed her into the kitchen with the leftovers, "you want these in the fridge?"
"Yeah," she put the dishes in the dishwasher and left the kitchen.
"What else is bothering you?" he followed her out.
"Nothing," she sat down on the couch.
"Mac," he sat next to her.
"This whole thing with Dani," she sighed, "it's one thing when we put our lives on the line for the job, but Dani?"
"I know what you're feeling. I felt the same way when Josh was a target," Harm shared, not realizing that was the last comparison she wanted him to make, "It's okay to be scared."
"I'm not," she lied, "I'm just tense."
"You know you can talk to me if you need to."
"There's nothing to talk about," she concluded referring to more than just the case.
"Right," he switched gears, not wanting to get into it again. Actually, they never really got into it the first time. After France and Annie's return, he and Mac just kind of stopped, but that was just how they were. They always started things but neither of them could see them through, "What else do I need to know from what Webb told you?"
"Webb's letting us decide where we take Dani and her cousin tomorrow," she turned to face him, relieved to have averted the previous topic, "Any suggestions?"
"I think we'll be able to come up with something," he smiled. Crisis averted, he though, but seeing her sitting there, a part of him wanted to go for it despite the ramifications. Little did he know that Mac sat across from him thinking the same thing.
1430 ZULU
HOTEL ST. REGIS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
"Come in," Dani called from her hotel room and Mac entered, "Hey."
"Hey yourself," they hugged, and Dani used the hug to check the hall, "Expecting someone?"
"Apparently not," her eyes met an empty hallway, "No Jason?"
"Sorry, no."
"But when you said that we'd go sight seeing?"
"I meant we'd actually tour D.C." Mac glossed over the fact that Webb had suggested this to make Dani visible to lure out the rebels.
"Oh," her face fell, "But why are you in uniform, unless we're going to drop by JAG?"
"I'm in uniform because some PR person of your cousin called to say we'd look better in uniform than in civvies," And because we need to send the clear message that you're being guarded. She explained, keeping the last part to herself.
"First person plural!"
"What?" Mac looked utterly confused by her sister's outburst.
"You said 'we,'" she clarified, "Is Harm here?"
"Yes, but not because of anything your mind is making up. You graciously played tour guide in France, and he wants to pay you back, "Mac lied and Dani bought it, barely, so she changed the subject, "So what sparked this new paparazzi interest in you?"
"This," she handed her that morning's copy of a Russian tabloid, "Page six."
"No headline?"
"Cute."
"'First Love…Again?'" she read the title and looked at the picture of Luka Radicans leading Dani across an airstrip by the hand, "You two aren't…are you?"
"No," she snapped, "It's a tabloid!"
"The pictures are kind of convincing, " she examined the inset photo, a close-up of Luka helping Dani out of a car.
"Unfortunately," she took back the tabloid and tossed it aside, "It's just enough to pique the interest of European tabloids that have nothing better to do than speculate who's going to marry my trust fund."
"That sounds like the perfect new reality show for Fox," Mac laughed.
"Thanks for making a mockery of life. I hope this happens to you one day," she smiled sinisterly.
"Poor you."
"You don't sound very sincere," she pouted.
"Baby," she teased, and Dani stuck her tongue out in response causing Mac to do the same.
"When you two are finished we can get going," Giselle smiled from the doorway where she stood with Harm.
"She started it," they both defended in unison, then laughed at each other.
"Ladies?" Harm prompted.
"Yes 'dad,'" Dani grabbed her purse and breezed past Harm, laughing at something Giselle said in Russian.
"Aren't you going to tell me what she said?" he looked at Mac who was laughing as well.
"It's not important," she assured him.
"Oh come on, Mac, tell me."
"Sorry," she shrugged then stuck her tongue out at him.
"Hey, that's conduct unbecoming," he shook his finer at her.
"Court martial me," she laughed joining Dani and Giselle.
"I never should have agreed to this," he muttered following the women.
"Welcome to JAG," Harm led them into the bullpen a couple hours later. Giselle had insisted she wanted to see the place where Harm and Mac worked, so they went to headquarters much to Dani's joy, "What would you like to see first?"
"You know Harm," Dani smiled sweetly, "I was thinking you could show Giselle the courtrooms, and since I've already seen them I'll stay here."
"I don't know," he teased and got a glare from Dani, "I guess that would work."
"Good," she made a beeline for Tiner's desk causing the others to laugh.
"Do you really want a tour?" Mac asked Giselle.
"I was merely humoring my cousin."
"We figured as much," Mac laughed.
"Ahem," Dani cleared her throat from where she stood a few feet from Tiner's desk.
"Dani!" he stood up and kissed her.
"Hello to you too," she broke from the kiss and sat down on an open portion of his desk.
"I thought you were touring D.C. with your cousin?"
"I got Gigi to convince them she wanted to see JAG."
"And neither the commander or the major found this suspicious?" he asked skeptically.
"Oh I'm sure they did," she laughed, "But it still got me here. Are you free for lunch?"
"I was going to go in an hour, but let me check with the admiral."
"Okay," she hopped off the desk and straightened her skirt as he knocked.
"Enter," the admiral's voice came from within.
"Sir, I'm going to take me lunch now. Jenkins is covering the phone."
"All right, Tiner," the admiral spotted Dani behind his yeoman, "Hello Dani."
"Hello Admiral," she joined Tiner in the doorway.
"How was France?"
"Lovely," she smiled, "But I'm glad to be back home."
"Understandably," he hid a chuckle from the young lovers, "Well carry on, Tiner's break is only so long."
"Thank you, sir," Tiner stepped aside to let Dani out first.
"Bye Admiral," Dani smiled as Tiner closed the door behind them, "So, where do you want to go to lunch?"
"You can choose," he took her hand in his as they entered the bullpen.
"How about Beltway Burger?" she suggested with a grin.
"Did you just say Beltway Burgers?" Mac asked, having overheard the end of their conversation.
"If I'm paying for lunch, I choose the restaurant," Harm laughed, "No burgers."
"It wasn't my idea," Mac defended as they headed to the elevator, "Besides, you could use it stick boy."
"Giselle Radicans," Dani ignored the rest of the burger squabble, "You remember Petty Officer Jason Tiner?"
"Yes," she offered her hand, "It's nice to see you gain, Jason."
"You too, ma'am," he shook her hand.
"Giselle, please," she laughed, "Ma'am makes me feel old."
"All right, Giselle," he smiled at the woman who was barely older than him.
"So, have you two decided where we're going for lunch?" Dani asked.
"Giselle, how do you feel about greasy cheeseburgers?" Mac asked the only true guest.
"Fine by me."
"Then Beltway Burgers it is," Mac announced as they entered the elevator.
"Hey, Harm, what happened to no burgers?" Dani asked innocently.
"I lost rock, paper, scissors," he said as the doors slid shut and Mac smiled triumphantly.
To be continued…but until then review please!